Welcome to Back to School Night
5th GradeGarden Gate Elementary
Agenda
•Introductions - Our Philosophy•Core Subject Areas•PE, Music, Art, Technology•Homework & Grading •Projects•Volunteer Opportunities•Communication•Questions
Room 14/15 Team
•Mr. Patrick Caseyo Room 14 - Math and Social Studies
•Mrs. Cris Lawsono Room 15 - Language Arts and Science
Our Core Philosophy
Language Arts
•Writing Workshopo Mini-lesson, activity, extended writing time, share
o Multiple Genres Personal Narrative, Poetry, Expository, Persuasive, Response to Literature
Step Up to Writing organization The Basics
Spelling, Vocabulary, Grammar, Proofreading
•Oral Presentations Poetry, Narrative, Reports & DemonstrationHomework: journal writing every
night
Reading
• Reading Workshopo Comprehension Strategies - Literary Analysis
• Core Literature Exampleso Sign of the Beaver, Jean Fritz Colonial Heroeso Selections from Houghton-Mifflin (textbook)
• Individual Readingo In Class- always have a book to read with themo Outside Reading - 1000 pages/trimester
Sharks Reading is Cool/School Library Read-a-Thon for tracking
2 books/trimester in 1st Language (if not English)
Scholastic/Arrow Book OrdersOrder form goes home next week
Benefits students and classroom libraries
Science
•Hands-on focus using Foss Science series
Combination kit-based/textbook
•Units Mixtures and Solutions - Chemical Reactions/Periodic Table of Elements
Water Planet - Astronomy and Weather Living Systems - Human Body and Plant Structures
•Individual and Group Projects Occasional homework/reading and review questions to finish from labs
Science•Additional Science Topics
Classification of Plant/Animals Marin Headlands Program Preparation Tobacco/Drug Awareness Human Growth and Development
Marin Headlands Information Night Date: Thursday, September 15th,
7:30pm
Math
• Thinking, understanding, problem solving, and communicating is our focus
• Math Toolso Manipulatives, journals, mental math, calculators, textbook, and computers
• California Mathematics Standards Number and Number Theory
Decimals, Fractions, and Percentages Measurement and Geometry Algebra, Functions, Patterns, and Logic Probability and StatisticsHomework Monday through Thursday nights
Social Studies•United States History
Native Americans to Westward Movement (~1850)
•Units of Study Native Americans* Explorers Colonial Times* Revolutionary War Building of America The Westward Movement
• Geography States and Capitals Longitude, Latitude, Continents, and Maps
Technology
• Activities will supplement core curriculum
Presentations, Digital Storytelling, Movies Williamsburg, Math games, Writing blogs
• We will teach students the basics Internet-based research Common applications (MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc)
• Introducing new activities based on Web 2.0
Wikis, Blogs, Voicethreads
• Homework will require home Internet access
Student online activities need to be supervised Stay tuned for even more
Other Curriculum•P.E.
Monday and Tuesday mornings Flexibility and endurance 1-mile runs 2x/week
appropriate dress/shoes everyday•Spectra Art
Alternate Friday mornings for Room 14/15
Volunteers still needed!•Music
Thursday afternoons
Research/Group Projects
• Student handouts describe requirementso Must be followed; Includes everythingo Word-processed-
Times New Roman, 12 point font, double-spacedo Hand-written-
Cursive or printed, in ink, single-spaced, legibleo At least one rough draft and notes required
• Students need to plan and allocate time in advance to complete projects
• No Plagiarism-Use 5th grade writing style
• Time in class for group projects Feedback on content, participation, cooperative skills
Grading
•Standards-based report card CUSD 6-point rubric Based on grade-level standards Issued three times per year
•Classwork, Tests & Projects Homework important for practice and reinforcement
Students will learn how to study for tests
•Student-led Conferences Students will review with you their strengths, areas to improve, and goals for this year
Homework• Student Planner
Check it nightly - Note required if incomplete
Always Homework Monday-Thursday Look for Long-term assignments and TESTS
• Expectations All homework completed carefully and on time
• Time ~50 minutes per night plus any unfinished class work
Includes long-term projects• How You Can Help
Good organization, quiet place to study Parental observation, a little assistance - if needed
Help your student take personal responsibility
Volunteer Opportunities
• Scholastic Book Orders• Correcting quizzes• Science • Project Cornerstone• Recycling Volunteers
• Spectra Art• Field Trip Chaperones• Room Representatives• Special Activities Assistance
Signup Sheets on tables, on-line, or e-mail us
Volunteers must have Tb test results on file in the office
Communication• Our Website - www.tinyurl.com/room1415
o Our primary way to keep you informedo Newsletters (blog), Projects/Tests, Examples of classwork, links, enrichment, upcoming events
• Parent Contact and Student Information Survey
Please complete if you haven’t already
• Please E-mail, Phone or send notes Our contact information is on the website and in your student’s planner
• Gator Folders every Thursday Review and discuss Sign folder and return on Friday Gatoraide now e-mailed home and on School Website
Birthday Celebrations
• CUSD Health and Wellness policyo Absolutely no food
• Alternativeso Small goodie bags with stickers, pencils, erasers, etc…
o Donation of book to class library
For Your Information
Questions?
Thank you for coming! Please join us in the
GLC for staff introductions.
