5th Grade Handbook
Everything you need to thrive and survive 5th Grade!
An Introduction:
This handbook is available to help you understand some general information about our classroom and how it will work this year. We believe that your child will be most successful if there is a strong partnership between school and home. Towards that end, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions throughout the year.
Schedule
8:10-9:00 Students enter and personalization time
9:00-10:15 English Language Arts Block--PBL
10:30-11:05 Social Studies PBL
11:05-11:25 Lunch
11:25-12:00Personalization Time
12:00-12:35 Recess
12:35-1:15 Math
1:15-1:55 Science
1:55-2:45 Specials
2:45-2:55 Pack up & get ready to go home
Specials Schedule
Tuesday--Music/Art
Wednesday--Art/Music
Thursday--PE
Classroom Website
Click here to go straight to the site.
Computers
Behavior
WE ARE C.O.O.L. AT SCHOOL!
C--Character
- Treat others with respect
- Always seek to do your best
- Choose Kind
O--Optimism O--Organization
O--Optimism
- Optimism is a habit of looking at challenges, failures, or setbacks in ways that increase one's hope and persistence.
O--Organization
- Keep our classroom safe and orderly
- Leave things ready for the next time they are needed
- Be responsible for own learning (supplies, due dates, expectations)
L--Leadership
- Lead by example
- Expect the best from yourself & others
- Be Accountable
- Be Dynamic (greeting/welcoming to others)
- Strive to be engaged
- Show respect for self and others
Homework
Snacks
Every child is welcome to bring a nutritious snack to eat in order to tide them over until lunchtime. Granola bars, fruit, crackers, etc. are great snacks to send. Please do not send any candy, cupcakes, or cookies. We have water cups at the back of the room and access to water fountains all throughout the day, so water bottles are not necessary.
Birthday Treats
When it is a student’s birthday, his or her name will be announced school-wide in the morning and they will be recognized in the classroom as well. Due to the large classes, we are rethinking birthday treats. Once a month, Dr. Schmitz and Mrs. Starnes will be decorating a special table in the cafeteria where we will celebrate all birthdays during lunch time. Each birthday student will get a special treat. Please no birthday invitations at school.
Digital Portfolios
Each student will be keeping their own digital portfolio this year. This will be where we will keep important artifacts of our EPiC 5th grade journey. Students will be updating their portfolio with pictures, completed project overviews, and work samples.
GRADING
We use a standards-based grading system on all assessments. Students will earn a score of 1-4 based on mastery of the learning goal. A score of 3 means that they have shown proficiency of the goal. Earning a 3 is the expectation for all learning goals by the end of 5th grade. There will be opportunities to earn a 4, which will involve higher level thinking and evidence of truly deep understanding of a concept. A 4 is not the expectation-- a 3 is!
Score meanings:
4= Higher level understanding/application of a skill; above and beyond!
3 = Mastered the standard
2 = Understands the basics, still working towards mastery
1 = Needs further instruction and practice; working on the basics
We will use rubrics for most projects that will include learning concepts. Rubrics will always be given to the students at the beginning of each project.
Absences
Make Up Work
Curriculum
Supplies and Materials
Great Article About Helping Your Child Succeed In School
We Need You!
Field Trips/Guest Speakers
*Chris Suchan-Weatherman-Fall
*Symphony-Fall
*Harvesters-November
*Mayor's Christmas Tree--December
*NASA--Google Hangout--December
*Wornall House--Civil War Field Trip-Spring
*Exchange City--Spring
Mark Twain Books
Students need to read 4 Mark Twain Books and take the tests on our EPiC website under resources. We will read Wonder and The Mighty Miss Malone together, so they will need to read at least 2 on their own.
Privateer's Apprentice
Wonder
Freaky Fast Frankie Joe
Capture the Flag
Ordinary Magic
Pinch Hit
The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook
The Shadow Collector's Apprentice
Chomp A
The Young Healer
The Mighty Miss Malone
Liar & Spy