1. Welcome to Fifth Grade 2014-2015

2. Comments and Questions  Feel free to ask anything along the way.  I’d love to meet you after the PP. That would be a good time to share with me anything you think will help make your child’s year the best it can be. Communication needs to be open and honest in the best interest of your child.

3. Communication  The best way to contact me is through email. I check it before school, during lunch, and after school. Erin.Reynolds@lz95.org Erin.Reynolds@lz95.org  Website: http://www.lz95.org/classes/room223_ereynolds/ http://www.lz95.org/classes/room223_ereynolds/  To call me: 847-540-3464  My Voicemail: 847-540-5281  If you need immediate attention, please call the school office. 847- 438-2351  If there are concerns that I, or any other staff member have concerning your child, you will be contacted right away.  I will be making frequent contact to update you specifically on your child’s success and progress.  I will be sending home The Reynolds Reporter and updating the class website two times a month.

4. Classroom Information  Students may bring a healthy snack and a water bottle to school each day.  Birthdays will be recognized over the loud speaker and in the classroom.  All cell phones must be turned off during school hours and must remain in backpacks during school hours.

5. Classroom Management  Our overall goal is for the children to be responsible, respectful and safe.  Students have created their own class rules to follow this year.  The entire grade will be doing the Fix-It plan. Students will be given two verbal warnings Students will be given two verbal warnings Students will then be given a Fix-it plan Students will then be given a Fix-it plan If the students do not fix the behavior, a parent signature on the fix it plan will be required. If the students do not fix the behavior, a parent signature on the fix it plan will be required. Two Fix-It sheets in one week will result in a phone call or email home. Two Fix-It sheets in one week will result in a phone call or email home.

6. Homework  All homework will be recorded in the assignment book. Materials needed will be placed in the expandable folder. This will go home and return the following day.  A punch on the H.O.T. ticket is also given each day when the student brings in assignments, assignment notebook, and expandable folder.  Homework will be a part of their participation grade and is still a requirement.

7. Homework Expectations  Reading –read at least 30 minutes every night.  Math – nightly assignments & study math facts as needed  Occasional word work, science, social studies, and writing assignments

8. Expandable Folder  The students will bring their Expandable Folder home each night. This folder will contain any notes from the office or me, and your child’s homework and classwork.  Please do not remove anything from this folder unless the child confirms. We will periodically clean the folder out to keep it organized.  Use this time as an opportunity to have a conversation with your child about their work.

9. Friday Folder  Every Friday, your child will bring home their Friday Folder, seperate from their Expandable folder.  This

10. Literacy During this morning block, we will follow the workshop model for literacy instruction. Components of a workshop model include read alouds, direct instruction mini-lessons, small group instruction, time for independent practice, writing about reading, conferring with the teacher and time for collaborative conversations. Students will read and work with a wide variety of authentic literature and trade books. Reading Fundamentals is the series K-5 classrooms will use to guide reading instruction. Each Unit of Study includes mentor texts, a variety of leveled books for guided reading and independent reading, and a selection of digital shared teaching resources that systematically integrate reading skill/strategy instruction with the study of genre. For more information visit www.schoolwide.com.www.schoolwide.com

11. Reading  Reader’s Workshop Model - Components include guided small group reading, interactive read aloud, shared reading, and independent reading. Schoolwide is the district-wide curriculum we will be utilizing during our Reading/Literacy Block  5 th Grade Genre Units – Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry.

12. Math The implementation of the Illinois Common Core State Standards brought shifts to math instruction.   Greater focus on fewer topics   Coherence: Linking topics and thinking across grades   Rigor: Pursue conceptual understanding, procedural skills and fluency, and application with equal intensity For more information about the shifts to the Common Core, please visit: http://www.corestandards.org/other-resources/key-shifts-in- mathematics/

13. Math Continued We will be using Stepping Stones by Origo to guide our math instruction. Stepping Stones is an online teaching resource that is fully aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Students have print journals, but there will not be a printed mathematics textbook. The focus of the Stepping Stones series is an emphasis on conceptual development of mathematics. You can expect your student to have many hands-on experiences with manipulatives and visual representations in addition to traditional computation. Number sense and fact fluency will continue to be emphasized. For more information visit www.origoeducation.com/steppingstones www.origoeducation.com/steppingstones

14. Writing The writing curriculum emphasizes the three writing genres mentioned in the standards, informative/explanatory, narrative, and opinion, as well as poetry and creative writing. Write Source is the textbook series used to support the writing curriculum in our elementary schools. Resources for parents and guardians:   For more information about the Common Core State Standards visit: http://www.corestandards.org/ http://www.corestandards.org/   To see resources compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education visit: http://isbe.net/common_corehttp://isbe.net/common_core   To view resource guides created by the Illinois PTA for parents visit: http://isbe.net/common_core/htmls/resources http://isbe.net/common_core/htmls/resources

15. Word Study/Phonics/ Spelling  We will provide direct instruction of word study as it is developmentally appropriate for our students and in the context of literacy instruction. Word Study is based on learning word patterns rather than memorizing words. We will be learning and implementing the program, Words Their Way to support a developmental approach to word study. Full implementation of Words Their Way will begin during the 2015-2016 school year.  For more information visit http://mypearsontraining.com/pdfs/TG_WT W_WordStudy.pdf http://mypearsontraining.com/pdfs/TG_WT W_WordStudy.pdf http://mypearsontraining.com/pdfs/TG_WT W_WordStudy.pdf

16. Science In Fifth grade we will study units on earth, life, and physical science topics over the course of the school year. The current text resource for science instruction is National Geographic Science. The series offers a broad range of print and digital resources as students engage in science study and inquiry.

17. Social Studies   Fifth grade students learn about the building of our nation. A variety of textbook resources are used.  It will be integrated with reading and writing.  Students will practice research skills and note taking.

18. ASSESSMENTS ASSESSMENTS Fountas and Pinell: Fountas and Pinell: Fall October 13 th - November 13 th Fall October 13 th - November 13 th Spring: April 2016 Spring: April 2016 PARCC – Partnership of Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers PARCC – Partnership of Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers http://www.parcconline.org/ Computer based test in Mathematics and Language Arts/Reading Computer based test in Mathematics and Language Arts/Reading April 4 th – May 3 rd April 4 th – May 3 rd Map testing dates Map testing dates Fall: September 8 th -23 rd Fall: September 8 th -23 rd Spring: May 15 th – 27 th Spring: May 15 th – 27 th

19. Taft  Our outdoor education takes place at Lorado Taft Campus in Oregon Illinois on the NIU owned campus. It’s a 3 day, 2 night learning fun-filled extravaganza that is one of the highlights of your child’s 5 th grade year.  Dates this year are February 22-24 (MTW)  There will be in informative parent meeting in the upcoming months. The cost is roughly $200.00. We will be fundraising to offset that cost if interested.

20. Human Growth and Reproduction  In the spring of 5 th grade, the science curriculum includes a two week study on human growth and reproduction.  More on that as the time approaches.  You may want to consider having “the talk” sometime before May, 2016.

21. Hallway Duties  If you did not sign up for a fall conference in the hall, please do so before you leave, and take a reminder slip.  Room Parent volunteer sign up is in the hall as well. Please consider helping out.  Please take a minute to fill out the Tshirt order form for your child, it is due September 9 th.

22. Growth Mindset www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWv 1VdDeoRY

23. Thank you, and get ready for a crazy fun year!