1. Prospect Elementary Open House Mrs. Decker Grade 5

2. WELCOME! Thanks for taking the time to come and learn more about what your child’s doing in 5 th grade. Before you leave please write a note to your child. He/she will enjoy reading it tomorrow. Please sign journal policy and technology pages and leave on desk. If you want a copy of the PowerPoint please put your name on list on back counter.

3. Communication CONTACT INFORMATION: –Email: decker.kelli@westada.orgdecker.kelli@westada.org –Prospect Phone: 350-4000 Newsletters: Newsletters will be emailed every 4-6 weeks and include a brief overview of what students are learning in academic areas. They will also notify you of information about important upcoming dates. (i.e. school programs, presentations, and projects) Website: Just published this last week and will add/update throughout the year. http://www.westada.org/Page/9004 or you can go on district website and get to it by the Prospect website.http://www.westada.org/Page/9004 Parent Contact: Prefer to call home but if email is better please let me know. Generally tell child I will be calling, sometimes I may forget. Weekly Work: Please review the returned work that comes home every Thursday in your child’s binder and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Planner: Please check your child’s planner daily to find out what we worked on that day, any homework and any upcoming tests or projects. Please initial planner Monday-Thursday.

4. Grade Level Expectations for Report Card Common Core/SBAC test Standards based report card 4 – Advanced 3 – Meeting grade level standards 2 – Moving towards grade level standards 1 – Below grade level You will see the reporting topic and the grade your child received on their paper. RT1 3 Please have your child show all work when completing math homework.

5. Homework Your child will not have a huge amount of homework unless he/she wastes class time. Assignments are due at the beginning of the day. I will email you when an assignment is missing. (1 freebie) Not all homework will be included in a subject area’s final grade. However, if it’s not included, it will be part of the homework and effort grade. The majority of homework will be finishing assignments started in class, math review page, studying for tests/quizzes, projects and reading.

6. 5 th Grade Projects/Reports 40 Book Challenge– Students are challenged to read 40 books by the end of the year. Newspaper Project– This is a project that gives your child an opportunity to describe him/herself using many different writing styles. This is already in progress and due Sept. 30 th. Revolution Game Board – This is a project that your child will use to study for our American Revolution test. Requirements will be sent home in Oct. We the People PACE project – This is the 5 th grade exit project. Your child will put together a written report as well as give an oral presentation on an assigned question about the United States government. This will be done in the spring. State Report – Your child will pick a state to learn and present a power point presentation about it.

7. How you can help at home Review planners daily to help ensure nightly homework is completed. Help your child study for tests by quizzing them and helping them study. Check daily to make sure your child is reading 5-7 days a week. Review weekly returned work and go over any items that your child may need additional help on. If applicable ensure your child is practicing math facts for 50 minutes per week. Please keep your eyes out for current event articles that your child can bring in and discuss with our class. Examples would be articles that relate to checks and balances, freedom of speech, branches of government, etc…

8. Journal Writing We will be using journals in the classroom in the future. Sometimes I will give the student’s topics to write about and other times they will have free writing time. I will be spot checking journals only. I will not be grading them or looking at every journal entry. Parents may request their student to bring home their journal if they wish to read the contents of their student’s journal Please sign the attached journal writing policy and leave it on your child’s desk.

9. Classroom Technology In the future we may want to use additional technology in the classroom by encouraging students to bring in their iPod, tablets, cell phones or other devices used for instruction. These devices will be used to incorporate technology strategies in the classroom to enhance student learning. Students need parent approval to bring these devices in and will be expected to follow classroom rules regarding use. The students will be responsible for the security of the device, but we will do as much as we can to keep them secure as well. Please let me know if you prefer for your child to not use their device in the classroom. At this time we are only using additional technology for reading in the classroom when students get to free time. I will email you if/when we set up a schedule for additional technology to come in for other learning purposes.

10. Fifth Grade Fifth grade is an exciting year. Your child will grow and change in many ways this year. All of the fifth grade teachers are committed to helping our students enter middle school with the organizational skills and self- confidence that will help them succeed at school and in life. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your child. This is the last stop before Middle School, cherish it! Questions for me????????

11. Journal Writing Policy Journals will be used in the classroom periodically. Assigned topics as well as free writing will be done by the students. Journals will be spot checked only and not every entry will read. Journals will be graded for completion and participation only and not content. Not every journal entry will be read for content. Parents may request their student to bring home their journal if they wish to read the contents of their student’s journal If you have any questions about this activity please contact me. Student _________________ Parent/Guardian _______________ Date _________________

12. Technology Policy Yes, my child has permission to bring an electronic device to school to use during instructional time. Their device is their responsibility. Prospect is not responsible for any lost or damaged electronic devices. Student _________________ Parent/Guardian _______________ Date _________________