Welcome to Welcome to Curriculum Night Curriculum Night

Fifth Grade Teachers:Fifth Grade Teachers:

Mr. NiemeyerMr. Niemeyer

Mrs. TarvinMrs. Tarvin

Mr. PeacockMr. Peacock

Mrs. MotleyMrs. Motley

Reading / Writing Reading / Writing

Fifth Grade ELA Teachers:Fifth Grade ELA Teachers:

Mr. NiemeyerMr. Niemeyer

Mrs. TarvinMrs. Tarvin

What is our reading curriculum?What is our reading curriculum?

Authentic LiteracyAuthentic LiteracyReaders WorkshopReaders WorkshopWriters WorkshopWriters Workshop

Authentic LiteracyAuthentic LiteracyAs students learn and use their oral As students learn and use their oral

language, they do it for a real reason or language, they do it for a real reason or purpose. When they learn to read and purpose. When they learn to read and write, they must also have this reason write, they must also have this reason

and purpose. Learning to read and and purpose. Learning to read and write must be meaningful. The use of write must be meaningful. The use of

authentic literature makes it possible to authentic literature makes it possible to create many meaningful reading and create many meaningful reading and writing experiences for children in the writing experiences for children in the

classroom. classroom.

Readers WorkshopReaders WorkshopOverviewOverview

Writers WorkshopWriters Workshop

Writers Workshop:Writers Workshop:Occurs dailyOccurs dailyMirrors Readers WorkshopMirrors Readers WorkshopUses a process approachUses a process approachStudents write on topics of their Students write on topics of their

own choiceown choiceRests on clear rituals and routinesRests on clear rituals and routines

Writing WorkshopWriting Workshop Opening Clear, focused mini-lesson Direct instruction is based

on data gained by analyzing student work

Lessons can be skills-based, craft-based, or procedural

Teachers keep a writers notebook

Teachers model expectations for independent work during the work period

Work Period: Students write independently Students choose topics and keep writers notebooks Students share work in response

groups Teacher confers with individual

students at this time

Closing: Students share and reflect on their

writing in Author’s Chair.

More to come:More to come:

Book ClubsBook Clubs Novels:Novels: HolesHoles Number The StarsNumber The Stars HatchetHatchet Island of The Blue DolphinIsland of The Blue Dolphin Manic MageeManic Magee Sign of The BeaverSign of The Beaver Out of The DustOut of The Dust

ScienceScience

Fifth Grade Science Teacher:Fifth Grade Science Teacher:

Mrs. MotleyMrs. Motley

4 Core Areas of Science4 Core Areas of Science

Physical SciencePhysical ScienceEarth ScienceEarth ScienceLife ScienceLife ScienceNature of ScienceNature of Science

What we “do” in science class…What we “do” in science class…

Writing assignmentsWriting assignmentsLabsLabsPractice sheetsPractice sheetsHomeworkHomeworkLots of discussion and checking Lots of discussion and checking

with partnerswith partners

How science is assessed…How science is assessed…

Open note quizzes, testsOpen note quizzes, testsJournal entriesJournal entriesUse of CPS clickersUse of CPS clickersWritten assignmentsWritten assignmentsReflectionsReflectionsPerformance assessments Performance assessments

(labs,etc.)(labs,etc.)

New TEKS this YearNew TEKS this Year

The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills have changed a bit this year. We will be have changed a bit this year. We will be covering some new topics such as density, covering some new topics such as density, weather and climate, and biofuel energy weather and climate, and biofuel energy sources.sources.

The students will take a science TAKS test The students will take a science TAKS test this year. They have only one chance to this year. They have only one chance to pass the test and the performance on the test pass the test and the performance on the test will help you determine if you child will be will help you determine if you child will be ready to take Pre-AP science classes next ready to take Pre-AP science classes next year. year.

MathMath

Fifth Grade Math Teacher:Fifth Grade Math Teacher:

Mr. PeacockMr. Peacock

Math CurriculumMath Curriculum Our Math Curriculum focuses on 2 main Our Math Curriculum focuses on 2 main

programs:programs:InvestigationsInvestigationsEnvisionEnvision

These programs are inquiry-based, student These programs are inquiry-based, student

centered curriculums where the students centered curriculums where the students develop meaningful understandings about develop meaningful understandings about mathematical concepts instead of learning mathematical concepts instead of learning steps to solve a problem.steps to solve a problem.

Traditional MathTraditional Math

John A. Van de Walle (2007)

Collection of rules and procedures to Collection of rules and procedures to memorizememorize

Focus is on getting the “right” answerFocus is on getting the “right” answerOnly one way to get the answerOnly one way to get the answerOnly some students are “good at math”Only some students are “good at math”

How is the way we How is the way we teach and learn teach and learn

mathematics different?mathematics different?MemorizingMemorizing

procedures to procedures to

get an answerget an answer

Do math in a way that makes sense to the learner

Teacher – centered

Student - centered

““The goal of mathematics should The goal of mathematics should be tobe toproduce learners who are both produce learners who are both mathematically mathematically competentcompetent and and cconfidentonfident. This does not come . This does not come from merely memorizing rules from merely memorizing rules and procedures, but from and procedures, but from understanding relationships and understanding relationships and knowing you can make sense of knowing you can make sense of information and situations you information and situations you encounter.”encounter.”

Ruth Parker (2000)Ruth Parker (2000)

Why?Why?We are living in the Conceptual Age.Employers want people who can apply

what they learn and work collaboratively.Traditional math does not work for all

children. They don’t understand what they are learning. They just learn to do it because they are told.

Investigations in Number, Investigations in Number, Data, and SpaceData, and Space

K-5 programK-5 programThe middle school programs follows The middle school programs follows

the same instructional model.the same instructional model.Focuses on mathematical thinking Focuses on mathematical thinking

and reasoning.and reasoning.

Investigations in Number, Investigations in Number, Data, and SpaceData, and Space

Teaches that there is still one correct answer. There are just many ways to prove the answer is correct.

Does not abandon traditional learning, just builds a conceptual understanding FIRST.

As a result of their As a result of their everyday learning, everyday learning,

students will….students will….Explore problems Explore problems in depthin depth

Find more than one way to solve a problem

Develop problem-solving

strategiesExplain their thinking

Represent their thinking using models, words and numbers

Make connections

between mathematical

ideas

Develop fluency – efficiency,

accuracy, and flexibility

Choose a variety of tools and

technology

Learn with and through each other

Let’s Try It!Let’s Try It!

Quick Images DemonstrationQuick Images Demonstration

This year is an SSI year for Math and Reading. The students must pass each of those tests in order to be promoted to 6th grade.

The students will also take a science TAKS test. This is the first year that they will take a TAKS test on this subject.

Math TAKS (1st Administration): April 4, 2011

Reading TAKS (1st Administration): April 5, 2011

Science TAKS (only administration): April 28, 2011

Math Retest (2nd Administration): May 17, 2011

Math Retest (3rd Administration during summer school): June 28, 2011

Reading Retest (2nd Administration): May 18, 2011

Reading Retest (3rd Administration during summer school): June 29, 2011