5th Grade Newsletter
2020-2021
NWEA / MAP Growth
Starting August 18th, students will complete the NWEA Map Screener live in class. The NWEA Map Screener is much like an eye exam. No one is telling you what to see, only you are telling the doctor what you see. In the same way, the NWEA MAP Growth assessment is an opportunity for students to state what they "see" in math and reading. The first score of the year sets the goals for the school year.
The NWEA MAP Growth assessment includes multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and other types of questions. You can view the practice test below. Unfortunately many families experience technical issues the first time students take the NWEA Map Screener. To make your student's first NWEA MAP experience as smooth as possible, please view the practice test below and disable popup blockers, as needed. Chrome is the recommended browser for NWEA.
What is Map Growth?
MAP Growth is a computer adaptive test created by NWEA that kids take two to three times per school year. The results provide teachers with information to help them deliver appropriate content for each student and determine each student’s academic growth over time.
What does it mean to be computer adaptive?
How do schools and teachers use MAP Growth scores?
Teachers can use the score to inform instruction, personalize learning, and monitor the growth of individual students. Principals and administrators can use the scores to see the performance and progress of a grade level, school, or the entire district.
Creating a personal learning journey
We know that children learn better—and faster—when teachers have a clear picture of what each student knows and what they are ready to learn next.
That’s why our assessments react to each student’s answers. In the testing world, this makes our tests “adaptive,” or personalized to measure the needs of every student.
- If your student answers a question correctly, the test follows up with a more challenging question.
- If your student answers incorrectly, the test follows up with an easier question.
Adaptive tests make it possible for teachers to pinpoint what each child needs in order to learn best. At NWEA® we help teachers understand your student’s unique learning needs—because every student matters.
Math
Welcome to 5th Grade Math!
In Summit Math 5, you will grow your math skills through a variety of fun and interactive activities. Each lesson walks you step-by-step through new math skills, beginning with Learn activities. Learn activities clearly explain math by using pictures and videos. They also include interactions that allow you to explore math.
Of course, eventually, you will need to do math quickly. Try It activities provide plenty of interactive practice, with hints and complete solutions. Throughout the course, you will also play games to practice math facts, and even complete a variety of creative projects.
Math TGA #1 Unit 1 Lesson 8 Big Ideas: Mini Project
- Due August 31st
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Focus: Emoji puzzles use emojis to represent specific numbers in equations. The answer to the puzzle is the value of the question mark in the last equation. The other equations are clues to the number that each emoji represents. In this mini-project, you will solve an emoji puzzle. Then you will create your own emoji puzzle.
Encourage daily practice of Math facts to produce fluency using flash cards or interactive Math games and apps. Below are a few helpful resources:
https://www.multiplication.com/games/all-games
https://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_Index.html
Reading / ELA
In Summit English Language Arts 5, you’ll grow your reading, writing, and language skills through workshops that weave these topics together. You’ll dive deep into fiction and nonfiction reading selections throughout the reading workshops. In the writing workshops, you’ll write a personal narrative, a research report, and an editorial, and you’ll create a presentation. You’ll also fine-tune your language skills through grammar activities. Word study workshops will help you grow your vocabulary. Throughout the workshops, you’ll learn new spelling patterns, play games to review what you learned, and even complete a variety of creative projects. There will also be plenty of time to read and write whatever you’d like.
In ELA Unit 1, we will be studying author Patricia MacLachlan. You will also begin working on Teacher Graded Assignment #1, which is your very own narrative essay. At the end of Unit 1, you will turn in your first Writing Sample.
Science
In Science Unit 1, we will begin exploring Earth’s major systems and how these systems interact with each other. We will dive into Earth’s freshwater sources.
8/25/2020 U1 L4 Watersheds
8/27/2020 U1 L6 Wetlands & Spheres
9/01/2020 U1 L8 Freshwater Review and test (follow OLS instructions on 9/1)
9/03/2020 U2 L1 Ocean water
Some Extra Fun: Create a place to collect art items and recyclables you may want to use for creating things in Science.
Tips and Tricks for a Smooth Year
- Attendance is extremely important for all class connects. Even though Science is considered “optional” it is still highly encouraged.
- Create a family schedule so everybody knows when students are in class connects
- Come prepared! Cook, eat, use the restroom, feed animals, do chores, run errands before/after class connects.
- Stay on track every day with the On-Track Calendar.
- Check USA Test Prep regularly for assignments, quizzes, and “Tickets Out the Door.”
- Email all teachers (Homeroom, Interventionist, SpEd) when the student will be absent.
- Clean out cache and cookies regularly to help with computer speed and memory.
https://safeYouTube.net/w/acZO
https://safeYouTube.net/w/sdZO
- Watch recordings of class connects missed. Here is a helpful video to demonstrate how to access recordings through the OLS.
https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cYhtb8pqCc
- All OLS (Online School) lessons require 80% Mastery for completion. The video below demonstrates a lesson that has not been marked complete because it was not mastered by the student.
https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cYhtb7pqkc
- It is highly encouraged students have 3 notebooks (simple one subject notebooks are perfect) so that they may take notes in Math, Reading and Science classes.
Important Upcoming Dates
- August 7th: Virtual Back to School Bash 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
- August 12th: First Day of School Year 20-21
- August 12th-17th: Bison Boot Camp in Class Connects
- August 18th-24th: NWEA / MAP Growth Screener Live in Class Connect
Please note that the free immunizations clinic initially scheduled for August 7th near our Midwest Office has been canceled due to the increase in COVID-19 cases.
On Track Calendar
2020-2021 Academic Calendar
5th Grade Teachers
Krissi Duff
(405) 259-9478 ext. 2180
Amey Henderson
Amy Lewellen
Katy McLain
(405) 259-9478 ext. 3138
Michelle Ochsner
(405) 259-9478 ext. 3192
Beth Spinks
(405) 259-9478 ext. 3175