Curriculum Night Curriculum Night

2009-20102009-2010

Welcome to 5Welcome to 5thth Grade Grade

Switching Classes and ScheduleSwitching Classes and Schedule

7:35 17:35 1stst Bell Bell

7:45 Tardy Bell7:45 Tardy Bell

7:55-8:45 Specials7:55-8:45 Specials

8:45-10:45 Mrs. Choppy Reading/LA8:45-10:45 Mrs. Choppy Reading/LA

Mr. Norvell Math/ScienceMr. Norvell Math/Science

10:45-12:45 Mrs. Choppy Reading/LA10:45-12:45 Mrs. Choppy Reading/LA

Mr. Norvell Math/ScienceMr. Norvell Math/Science

12:45-1:15 Lunch12:45-1:15 Lunch

1:15-1:45 Recess1:15-1:45 Recess

1:45- 2:40 US History 1:45- 2:40 US History

2:40-2:45 Pack Up2:40-2:45 Pack Up

Math Math

• Emphasis on the four main operations Emphasis on the four main operations including adding and subtracting both including adding and subtracting both whole numbers and decimals.whole numbers and decimals.

• Fractions and ProbabilityFractions and Probability

• GeometryGeometry

• GraphingGraphing

• An undercurrent of problem solving and An undercurrent of problem solving and critical thinking will accompany all units.critical thinking will accompany all units.

Science Science

This year’s Science curriculum is based upon This year’s Science curriculum is based upon summing up all of the students’ Science skills summing up all of the students’ Science skills from past years and extending that knowledge in from past years and extending that knowledge in depth. depth.

There will also be new concepts such as:There will also be new concepts such as:• ElectricityElectricity• SoundSound• The Rock CycleThe Rock Cycle

Through each of these units the scientific method Through each of these units the scientific method will be the vehicle for learning concepts.will be the vehicle for learning concepts.

Social StudiesSocial Studies

GeographyGeographyStates and CapitalsStates and CapitalsExplorersExplorersRevolutionRevolutionConstitutionConstitutionBranches of Government Branches of Government Major Wars and Events up to the presentMajor Wars and Events up to the presentQuizzes count 1 grade Tests are 2 Quizzes count 1 grade Tests are 2 History Alive ProgramHistory Alive ProgramUS Studies Weekly US Studies Weekly

ReadingReading

Reading CertificatesReading CertificatesReading logsReading logs 100 minutes a week100 minutes a week Due Fridays Due Fridays Count as one test grade per 9 weeks Count as one test grade per 9 weeks

Uses a variety of high interest text including Uses a variety of high interest text including magazines and nonfiction. Making connects with magazines and nonfiction. Making connects with S.S. and Science concepts. S.S. and Science concepts.

Goal- is to develop high level readers who interact Goal- is to develop high level readers who interact with the text. with the text.

Language ArtsLanguage Arts

• Spelling Spelling

-Tests every week 20 words-Tests every week 20 words

• Writing will appear most often through Writing will appear most often through journal entries, creative writing, and journal entries, creative writing, and content writing. content writing.

• Grammar Lessons Grammar Lessons

HomeworkHomework

Parents Role- Homework is a student responsibility. It is the Parents Role- Homework is a student responsibility. It is the parent’s role to make sure their students are doing their homework parent’s role to make sure their students are doing their homework and if they need help, to discuss problem areas.and if they need help, to discuss problem areas.

Homework is given on an as needed basis in Math and Science.Homework is given on an as needed basis in Math and Science.

Reading- 100 minutes per weekReading- 100 minutes per week

Planners- Planners are filled out every day. It is important that you Planners- Planners are filled out every day. It is important that you check your student’s planner on a regular basis.check your student’s planner on a regular basis.

Monday Folders- These go home every Monday and starting on the Monday Folders- These go home every Monday and starting on the week of August 31st, will have to be signed every week. Spot week of August 31st, will have to be signed every week. Spot checks will occur randomly throughout the year. It is important that checks will occur randomly throughout the year. It is important that your students get home information that is being passed out to your students get home information that is being passed out to them.them.

StudyStudy HallHall

Study Hall is a time set aside during the Study Hall is a time set aside during the recess period for students who are recess period for students who are experiencing trouble with a given concept experiencing trouble with a given concept to receive additional time and instruction to receive additional time and instruction from a teacher. This is not a punishment.from a teacher. This is not a punishment.

Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities

• There are plenty of ways to get involved:There are plenty of ways to get involved:• FASTFAST• KGESKGES• Safety PatrolSafety Patrol• Student CouncilStudent Council• ChoirChoir• BankBank

TAKSTAKS

Test DatesTest Dates

-TAKS Math April 6th-TAKS Math April 6th**

-TAKS Reading April 7-TAKS Reading April 7th*th*

-TAKS Science April 29-TAKS Science April 29thth

* Denotes a test that is part of SSI (Student * Denotes a test that is part of SSI (Student Success Initiative).Success Initiative).

Attendance/Make Up WorkAttendance/Make Up Work

• It is important to be at school every day. If It is important to be at school every day. If possible try to schedule appointments outside of possible try to schedule appointments outside of school hours. school hours.

• Please send a note or call the office in the event Please send a note or call the office in the event that your students cannot attend.that your students cannot attend.

• Make up Work- For every day absent, the Make up Work- For every day absent, the student will receive an additional day to student will receive an additional day to complete make up work.complete make up work.

• Make up work will be sent home in a “While you Make up work will be sent home in a “While you are out folder”.are out folder”.

Classroom ManagementClassroom Management

• Behavior BookBehavior Book

• Fun FridayFun Friday

• Rachel’s ChallengeRachel’s Challenge

Contact informationContact information

Conference time 7:55-8:45. If you would like to Conference time 7:55-8:45. If you would like to meet with us, please email or call to schedule a meet with us, please email or call to schedule a time 48 hours prior. This helps us to be better time 48 hours prior. This helps us to be better prepared to answer any questions that you may prepared to answer any questions that you may have for us.have for us.Our fifth grade webpage can be found through Our fifth grade webpage can be found through the school website at the school website at http://www.gcisd-k12.org/schools/ges/Contact Contact

The best way to contact us is through email. Our email The best way to contact us is through email. Our email addresses are addresses are david.norvell@gcisd.netdavid.norvell@gcisd.net or or jana.choppy@gcisd.netjana.choppy@gcisd.net I I

Grading PolicyGrading Policy

Grades online- Sign up in the front officeGrades online- Sign up in the front office-Encourage your students to look online -Encourage your students to look online

with with you.you.Progress Reports and Report Cards Progress Reports and Report Cards

-Reports will be given out on the third -Reports will be given out on the third week week only if a student is failing or has only if a student is failing or has

had a significant drop in their grade in a had a significant drop in their grade in a subject area.subject area.

-All students will receive a report on the -All students will receive a report on the sixth week.sixth week.

-All report cards go home on the ninth -All report cards go home on the ninth week.week.

Further Important InformationFurther Important Information

• FAST News- Sign up for district updates at FAST News- Sign up for district updates at www.gcisd-k12.orgwww.gcisd-k12.org..

• Cell Phones- All cell phones must be Cell Phones- All cell phones must be turned off and out of sight if they are turned off and out of sight if they are brought to school. If you need to contact brought to school. If you need to contact your student, please leave a message your student, please leave a message through the front office. This goes for other through the front office. This goes for other electrical devices as well.electrical devices as well.

Further Important InformationFurther Important Information

• Snacks- Please prepare snacks that are Snacks- Please prepare snacks that are considered healthy for your student considered healthy for your student throughout the year. Snacks such as throughout the year. Snacks such as cupcakes, cookies, chips are things that cupcakes, cookies, chips are things that can be placed in lunches, but are not can be placed in lunches, but are not considered healthy snacks.considered healthy snacks.

• Lunch Visitation- This year a separate Lunch Visitation- This year a separate table will be available for parents visiting table will be available for parents visiting their students.their students.

Further Important InformationFurther Important Information

• BirthdaysBirthdays

• Visitor Sign-inVisitor Sign-in