1. Welcome to Fifth Grade 2016-2017

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 reach me is via . You may use:
Feel free to leave a VM at You may try my direct line and I will likely pick up but may not be able to talk at that time. Direct line is:
If you need immediate attention, please call the school office

4. Vision
Everyone feels safe, respected, and confident as a learner and individual.
Academic growth is evident and valued.
Students and teacher have a growth mindset with high expectations for learning.
Students, staff, and parents work together to achieve success.

5. Classroom Information
Students may bring a healthy snack. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school every day.
You will likely receive a newsletter via my webpage every bimonthly.
“See Me” papers: If your child has a see me on their paper, I need to go over something with them. You will know if they saw me, because there will be a “BB” stamp over the see me.
All tests will come home after they are graded to be reviewed and signed by a parent/guardian. Please see that they are returned with your child.

6. Classroom Management
Our overall goal is for your child to feel safe at school. We have created classroom rules together. We strive to inspire all student to be passionate, continuous learners and prepare them to be responsible, caring citizens in a global community.
As noted in an earlier letter home, 5th grade will be using Fix it Plans on a need-be basis. Students have a chance to fix their behavior during the day and the note may never even go home. If the behavior is not remedied during the day, the Fix it Plan will go home for you to sign. Two Fix it Plans in one week will warrant a phone call or an home.

7. Professional Learning
Our professional learning will impact your child’s education. Here are the professional learning experiences we have this year as a district and building.
1. Full-day Kindergarten (K teachers only)
2. Common Core State Standards
Math (1st & 2nd grade)
Literacy (3rd-5th grade)
3. New writing materials (K-5)
4. Book Study: Comprehension & Collaboration: Inquiry Circles for Curiosity, Engagement, and Understanding
5. Inquiry Learning – writing one unit in science or SS so our students can experience this kind of learning. Please note Dr. Osburn’s summer newsletter that was sent to all community members – MW was highlighted for this kind of learning.

8. Feedback, Reporting, and Homework Policy
As a staff we have reflected on our feedback, grading, and homework practices to ensure they are positively impacting student achievement & their mindset towards their work.
Please take note in our next newsletter what these practices will entail.

9. Homework Expectations
Reading –read at least 20 minutes every night-on your honor-no logs.
All homework will be recorded in the assignment book.  This will go home daily and return the following day. Please check your student’s assignment notebook and/or expandable folder.

10. Expandable Folder
The students will bring their expandable folder home each night. The folder has been set up with various tabs. This folder will contain any notes from the office or me, and your child’s work.
Take a few minutes each night to go over the contents of your child’s expandable Folder. Please do not empty the folder UNLESS your child approves. This may result in your child having to redo the assignment.
Your child will bring this expandable folder back and forth to school each day.

11. 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

12. Reading
Reader’s Workshop Model - Components include guided small group reading, interactive read aloud, shared reading, and independent reading. Schoolwide is the district 95 curriculum we will be utilizing during our reading/literacy block.
5th Grade Genre Units - fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

13. 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:

14. 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 Please note this is a new program/series this year. It’s new to me and it’s new to the kids as well. There is only a workbook/journal. There is no text book for the class.

15. Writing
Writers’ Workshop Model - Components include guided small group writing, interactive read aloud, shared writing, and independent writing. Schoolwide is the district 95 curriculum we will be utilizing during our writing/literacy block.
5th Grade Genre Units - Memoir, Essay, and Biography.

16. 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 (Words Their Way) is based on learning word patterns rather than memorizing words. Full implementation takes place this year. WTW is a developmental approach to word study. For more information visit

17. 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.

18. Social Studies
Fifth grade students learn about the building of our nation. A variety of textbook resources are used. We begin at the French and Indian War in the mid 1700’s and end with the Civil War and Reconstruction in the late 1800’s.
It will be integrated with reading and writing.
Students will practice research skills and note taking.

19. ASSESSMENTS PARCC MAP COGAT
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
Aligned to measure whether students are on track to be successful in college and their careers
Computer-based K–12 assessments in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy
Allows teachers and parents access to tools to help customize students learning
Measure of Academic Progress (MAP)
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

20. 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 5th grade year.
Dates this year are April 3-5, following spring break: M-W!!
There will be in informative parent meeting in the upcoming months. The cost is roughly $ We will be fundraising to offset that cost if interested.

21. Human Growth and Reproduction
In the spring of 5th 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, 2017.

22. 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 now on line. Please take a slip if interested. Please consider helping out.
Anyone who will be in the school volunteering needs to secure and fill out the Liability Waiver in the hallway.
Please take a minute to fill out the Tshirt order form for your child. Feel free to return now or in their expandable folder. Orders are due Sept. 7th.

23. MINDSET VIDEO BY Please watch the minute video on fixed mindset vs growth mindset.