5th Grade
2009 – 2010
Scarselli Elementary
Rm. C-6
Mrs. Hill’s
Fifth Grade
Parent/Student
Handbook
This handbook belongs to:
______
Welcome
Hello, and welcome to Room C-6! This is going to be an exciting, fun-filled year for all of us. I am very thrilled to be starting a new school year. We have a lot of learning ahead of us!
Throughout this handbook, you will find information regarding grading procedures for academic work and behavior, curriculum for the school year, and other pertinent information regarding routines and procedures.
This will be my second year teaching fifth grade, and my fourth year teaching at Scarselli Elementary. I have taught previously at both Pinon Hills Elementary, and Gardnerville Elementary. I come from a family and community of teachers, and truly enjoy my job!
Communication between parents, students, and the teacher is integral to the development of a positive learning environment. I am available to address your questions and concerns via e-mail, (), and in person/by phone before and/or after school, (8:00 – 8:30, 3:10 – 3:30)
We pledge to do
our personal best,
each and every day!
Conduct Grade Policy
The fifth grade as a whole employs the use of a conduct sheet in each classroom. This conduct sheet details behavioral/academic expectations in the fifth grade, and provides an opportunity for students to view the potential consequences for inappropriate behavior, and list any assignments they might be missing. Should students not be prepared for class, (ie materials missing, assignments incomplete), or display inappropriate behavior, they will have their conduct sheets “punched”, with a hole punch. The system for grading conduct sheets/Pee-Chees is as follows:
1 punch = 1 on Pee-chee, no consequence
2 punches = 2 on Pee-Chee, Study Hall on Friday
3 punches = After school detention
4 punches = Parent Phone Call
5 punches = Conference with parents & principal
For minor misbehavior, (ie. talking, off-task), I will issue a warning before I punch a student’s conduct sheet. If the behavior displayed is dangerous or seriously inappropriate, I will provide no warning.
My teaching style is based on high expectations for all students both in academic work, and in behavior. If all students are well-behaved, the entire class will not only get along, but more learning will take place.
Classroom Routines
Newsletter-I will send a class newsletter each Monday night. The newsletter will give parents information about what content is being studied that week, what the homework is for the entire week, and any reminders/school events that parents need to know about. On the reverse of the newsletter will be the spelling words studied for each two-week period of time.
Binders-As noted in the Back-to-School Welcome letter, all fifth grade students need to have a 3-inch, 3 ring binder on the first day of school. This binder will contain all student assignments, important papers, and materials needed each day. In past experiences, I have found that the binders that zip up, or Velcro together on the outside flaps are best. Dividers will be provided and labeled the first day of school, according to what will be studying in class. All binders should have a
3-ring pencil pouch equipped with several, sharp #2 pencils.
Spelling- Every Monday students will bring home their spelling word lists that will be studied for a period of two weeks. Each student’s list has five high-frequency or “core” words that all students are responsible for knowing and spelling correctly by the end of the fifth grade. After an initial assessment, each student will be placed in spelling groups according to developmental level, and will study “pattern” words biweekly which focus on spelling patterns thatpertain to each student’s developmental spelling progression.
Math Class-The fifth grade students at Scarselli will be “switching” classes for math instruction. Math instruction is differentiated in fifth grade, with students receiving instruction at their appropriate developmental levels. These differentiated groups are formed by giving all fifth grade students a pre-test for each math unit taught, in their homeroom. The results of that pretest inform decisions about where students will be placed in math class for that unit, and at the conclusion of the unit, a post-test is given to ascertain progress. These groups are fluid; a new pre-test is given for each unit, and students will not always be in the same group, or with the same teacher. However, all fifth grade teachers use the same conduct sheet, and have the same expectations in regards to conduct and work habits.
Grading Procedures
All students in my class will receive letter, (A, B, C, D, F) grades in the content areas of reading, math, language arts & writing, spelling, and social studies. A participation grade will be given for science. Below is the grading scale I will follow when taking grades on student assignments.
100% - 98% = A+
97% - 93% = A
92% - 90% = A-
89% - 88% = B+
87% - 83% = B
82% - 80% = B-
79% - 78% = C+
77% - 73% = C
72% - 70% = C-
69% - 68% = D+
67% - 63% = D
62% - 60% = D-
59% - lower = F
I take reading grades on chapter book units done in class, AR reading, and reading comprehension done in class. In math, language, and spelling, I take grades based on quizzes, tests, and written assignments done in class. In social studies, grades are taken from quizzes, tests, and student projects.
Curriculum
Fifth grade is a big year in terms of the curriculum students are expected to learn. It is very social studies intensive, and there is much emphasis placed on writing. Below, I hope to give you a general idea about what students will be learning this year.
Social Studies:Fifth grade social studies curriculum is very history intensive, mostly based around American history. Student will learn, in chronological order, about Vikings/Explorers up through the Civil War and beyond. They are also expected to learn about the branches/working of a democracy government, and are expected to memorize states/capitals, and their placement on a US map. We spend at least an hour a day studying social studies. In the spring, students are given a history exam by the district to assess their knowledge.
Reading:Reading in our class will consist of students being involved in “book clubs” whole and/or small group in size, which will often be based around our social studies curriculum. In terms of AR reading, I only require that students read 2 books/take 2 quizzes with a grade of 80% or higher each month to maintain a passing grade. Students who only read 1 book/take 1 quiz will receive a 75%, and students who do not read any books/pass any quizzes will receive a 0.
Math:As mentioned previously, some students will leave my classroom for math and some will stay, math grades for each of the 4 units studied will be tabulated by each student’s math teacher for that unit. The four math units we study in fifth grade are:
Unit 1: Number Sense/Place Value/Addition/Subtraction
Unit 2: Multiplication & Division
Unit 3: Geometry/Time & Money/Measurement/Data
Unit 4: Fractions & Decimals
In their homeroom classes, each student will take part in the “Rocket Math” math facts program, in which multiplication and division facts are studied/quizzed daily. It is imperative to each student’s success in math that they know their facts with immediate recall.
Writing:Writing is a very large part of the curriculum in fifth grade. In January, all fifth grade students in the state of Nevada will take a writing exam. This entails each student displaying his/her writing skills while writing to a given prompt. We will be writing daily in class for practice, and will incorporate many different strategies for writing as the year progresses.
Testing
Fifth graders endure much testing during the school year. Before each unit of testing, I will send home test-taking tip and reminders, and will not assign homework the nights before or of testing.
MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Testing:
Fall 2009
Spring 2010
Douglas County School District Test
CRT (Criterion Reference Test) Testing:
Spring 2010
State of Nevada
Nevada State Writing Test:
January 2010
American History ALT (Achievement Level Test):
Spring 2010
Douglas County School District Test
When specific dates of testing become available I will make sure to notify all parents.
Homework
I’m sure you are asking, “Do we have to have homework?” The answer to that question is, “Yes, absolutely!” There are many good reasons for having homework. Here are a few:
- To help establish good study habits
- To develop a sense of responsibility
- To practice and reinforce concepts and skills
- To complete work not finished in class
- To make up work if you are absent
While every teacher has his/her own policy/belief regarding the use of homework, I find it necessary for the reasons stated above. My nightly homework will always vary a little, and will be listed weekly in the Monday night newsletter for all parents to see. I do not send packets, as I feel it’s a good practice of responsibility for students to bring necessary assignments/items back and forth between home and school daily.
Students will always have 30 minutes of reading minimum per night. To ensure that the reading is truly being done and monitored by an adult, all students have a “Homework Log” in a sheet protector in their binders. These must be filled out and initialed by a grown-up to confirm reading was done NIGHTLY. If I don’t send students reading questions/comprehension to complete, they will be required to write a 2-paragraph (minimum 10 sentences), summary of what they’ve read. Requirements for the contents of this summary can also be found in a sheet protector in student binders. If summaries are copied from the book, or too messy to read, homework will not be counted as complete, and will have to be done again.
Students who do not bring back completed homework will receive a punch on their conduct sheets, and will be required to stay in for first recess to do their homework. If emergencies or situations arise where it is absolutely impossible to get homework done, parents should write me a note explaining, and students will be exempt from consequences.
Misc. Information
Classroom Economy:During the school year, your child will be participating in a “Classroom Economy” where he/she will “apply” for various class jobs, perform those jobs independently for several weeks, and be “paid” weekly, according to whether or not their jobs are done correctly. Every few months, jobs will change, and when this happens, students will take the money they “earn”, and be allowed to spend it on items of their choice at the class store During these class store times, students will be practicing a wide variety of economic activities that involve choices, spending/saving, ect..
Book Orders: I will send a large stack of book orders monthly. Book orders are truly the cheapest way to purchase great reading materials for your children. I will always attach a letter detailing dates due, payment information, ect..
Birthday Treats:If your student would like to bring treats to share on his/her birthday, please email me or send me a letter ahead of time to let me know.
Volunteers: If you would like to volunteer in the classroom, I would appreciate your help. With this age group, the kind of volunteer work you would be doing is largely things like making copies, preparing materials, ect.. Please let me know if you are interested.
Family Life/Sex Ed: Fifth grade begins Douglas County’s Family Life/Sex Ed curriculum. The fifth grade curriculum is largely based on the changing body, and a preview night for parents will be available and advertised. Only students with signed parent permission slips will be allowed to attend. This curriculum is usually taught in the Spring.
Behavior Outside the Classroom
HALLWAYS: As previously mentioned, I have very high expectations about what types of behavior I find appropriate. Hallway behavior is no exception. I require students to walk in single-file, silent lines through each hallway in school. I believe it is imperative for students to respect the learning of their peers by doing so.
LUNCH ROOM/PLAYGROUND: Due to Nevada weather conditions, there will be seasons where students will not be able to eat outdoors, and will have to utilize the lunch room. When this is necessary, I expect all students to behave appropriately in the cafeteria. In addition, I expect that students use playground equipment appropriately, and respectfully follow directives from playground aides.
ART/MUSIC/PE/COMPUTER/LIBRARY: Our students in Douglas County are very fortunate to still have the ability to attend special classes. I expect they will behave appropriately in all classes.
ASSEMBLIES:When we have the privilege of having people come to perform for our school, it is necessary that students are respectful and quiet during assembly performances. Students displaying inappropriate behavior will be removed from assemblies, and will not attend future assemblies.
Policies on Electronic Devices & Dress Code:Pursuant to Administrative Regulation 529 A, students are not allowed to have cellular phones or any electronic devices on school grounds. We realize that many students have these, but they do create issues, particularly when they are turned on, and will be confiscated if they are being used during the school day. They can be obtained by parents in the office if they are confiscated. In addition, pursuant to Administrative Regulation 521 A, students are not allowed to wear hats inside any school building. I will take hats away if they are worn in the building, and return them at the end of the day
Classroom Behavior
It is my firm belief that a good learning environment is influenced by the types of interactions and relationships students have with one another. This is the main reason I have high behavioral expectations. If any student at any time does not feel safe in this classroom for any reason, it compromises their ability to learn
I take teasing/bullying very seriously. Students in my class are expected to treat one another with kindness and respect, both evident in their words, gestures/facial expressions, and actions. This can be a particularly challenging time for all students as adolescence approaches, and I feel that is of utmost importance that all students feel welcome and valued in this environment.
I am known for being strict, and I must admit freely that I am. However, I provide a high-level of structure and expectation in an environment of caring and warmth, and combined, I feel this makes for the optimal learning environment for students.
I appreciate the opportunity to work with your child this year, and know that we will have a great school year. Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions/concerns! Thank you!