Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Fifth Grade... And More! Welcome to Curriculum Night! 2012 – 2013

1. Everything You Ever Wanted to KnowAbout Fifth Grade...And More!Welcome to Curriculum Night!2012 – 2013 Mount Energy Elementary Mrs. Horton, Mrs. Rutter, Mrs. Whitaker

2. Part I: Curriculum • ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS: A Balanced Literacy Approach Using a balanced literacy approach, the fifth grade curriculum extends to all content areas including reading, writing, speaking, and listening. • READING • Fifth graders will be exposed to many genres and their characteristics as they read a balance of fiction and nonfiction texts. Guided reading groups will focus instruction on specific reading comprehension skills and strategies, vocabulary study, critical thinking skills, creative responses, and fluency. Students are flexibly grouped based on needs determined by various assessments, teacher observations, and progress monitoring. Children are expected to respond to text in class discussions and through thoughtful written responses. Reading aloud and our reading incentive program are integral parts of fifth graders’ Reading development. • WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATION • Although children write across the curriculum on a daily basis, a Writer’s Notebook and instruction in the craft of writing provides students with opportunities to write about a variety of topics in narrative, expository, and persuasive formats. Students will continue their use of graphic organizers for planning and organization, and, as in previous grades, they are expected to use the writing process to produce written pieces. Writing instruction will focus on developing and improving the seven traits of effective writing: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation. Students will practice formal and informal communication skills across the curriculum and throughout the year in the following classroom situations: cooperative group communication, whole group communication, and oral presentations.

3. Part I: Curriculum Cont. • Vocabulary • Students will be given vocabulary words based on the units of study we are working on. Vocabulary is a very important part of the EOG and practice with these words is crucial. They will work in groups throughout the week. The fifth graders will engage in a variety activities that promote learning and understanding of the terms. On Fridays, students will be assessed on their assigned words. Additionally, they will be challenged to correctly spell words and are expected to spell all words correctly on final drafts of their writing. • Math • The textbook series that we use to teach math is enVision Mathematics. This program, in conjunction with CCSS curriculum, offers students a broad background in mathematics. The program consists of a problem-solving approach based on everyday situations, frequent practice of basic skills, an opportunity to revisit concepts and skills regularly, and an exploration of mathematical content beyond basic arithmetic. Your child has a workbook (which contains activities to support daily instruction). Your child also has access to a calculator to check work. To get a clearer picture of the many skills and concepts covered in fifth grade, browse through these books and read the Common Core State standards Curriculum Guide for Parents on the school website. Although children will learn the same skills and concepts, assignments and the pacing of the lessons will be differentiated based on your child’s needs and learning styles. All fifth grade teachers work closely with our support staff (EC and AIG), who assists us in providing enrichment for all students.

4. Essential Standards: • Units taught in fifth grade include: • SOCIAL STUDIES • Units taught in fifth grade include: • Building a New Nation • The Westward Movement • U. S. government and how it evolved • “Trail of Tears” & Louisiana Purchase • effects of Washington, Adams, • War of 1812 • Jefferson’s presidencies • Industrial Revolution & immigration • Civil War and Reconstruction • Modern U. S. History • Lincoln’s presidency – Immigration • issues that divided the nation - Industrialization – • Civil War - World Conflicts • Current Events • - Time for Kids • - CNN Newsroom • SCIENCE • Scientific inquiry, • Forces and Motion • Matter: Properties and Change • Energy: Conservation and Transfer • Earth Systems, Structures, and Processes • Ecosystems, Structures and Functions of Living Organisms • Evolution and Genetics.

5. Part II: Routines and Procedures • ORGANIZATION • “Organization is my friend” is a mantra that fifth graders will be learning this year as theyjuggle assignments and materials. Students are always expected to have the appropriate materials with them for each class. They are also required to keep the proper papers andmaterials in these designated folders: Math, Reading, Writing, SocialStudies, Science, and a Homework Folder. A brief period of time will be given once a month for students to clean and organize their folders, desks and cubbies. They are expected to use this time wisely and to keep their papers and materials in the appropriate places. • Some students have found organizational success with plastic folder that their papers can fit neatly inside the pockets, including the agenda, therefore only having one thing to grab as they’re heading out the door. • TESTS • Students will have at least two days notice before a test. Dates for tests and long termassignments will be recorded by your child in his or her agenda and announced on the fifth grade website. • HOMEWORK • Please see our websites regarding the homework policy. We will fill outagendas together throughout the day. At the end of the day, students refer totheir agendas to ensure they are bringing home the appropriate materials tocomplete all assignments. The children can check off assignments as they are completed athome. We will do random checks to make sure students are filling out their organizers properly.You can assist your child by checking out each teacher’s Homework Page on the Mount Energy website www.gcs.k12.nc.us/Domain/713 or access the Granville County Schools Website, click on schools, Mount Energy, Teacher Website.

6. Part II: Routines and Procedures Cont. • GRADING • Report card grades are based on participation, in-class performance during lessons and activities (as recorded in anecdotal records kept by teachers), tests and quizzes, projects, and homework. Assignments and class work may be graded according to criteria on a rubric, they may be given a percentage grade or mark, or they may be graded with a combination of both. Some assignments may get two grades. For example, an essay written in Social Studies class might receive a Social Studies grade for the content and a Writing grade for how clearly the student’s thoughts were expressed. The grading scales we often use to provide feedback are as follows: • A 93% - 100% (4, √+ Meeting or exceeding expectations consistently) • B 85% - 92% (3, √ Developing Skills to meet expectations) • C 76% - 84% (3, √ Developing Skills to meet expectations) • D 70% - 75% (2, √- experiencing difficulty) • F69% and below (1, -No effort or no understanding)

7. Part II: Routines and Procedures Cont. • REDO WORK/LATE WORK • Students that turn in work that does not meet the assignment’s requirements, is incomplete, ordoes not reflect the student’s best effort, will be returned; and students will be asked to makenecessary corrections. Corrections are due back with a parent signature the following day. • Intrinsic motivation to do one’s best and pride in one’s accomplishments come from being heldaccountable for quality work. A student’s work is considered late if it is not handed in by theperiod in which it is due. A “Late Homework Notice” will be sent to parents via note on agenda tocommunicate concerns regarding late work. Late homework will not be accepted unless a valid emergency has occurred, in which the parent needs to write a note communicating the emergency. Extra-curricular activities do not constitute as a valid excuse.We promote independence and responsibility in our fifth graders; therefore, students shouldcome to school with all of their necessary materials, homeworknotes, and so forth. Althoughwe will understand an occasional slip-up or special circumstance, students are expected to take responsibility for their belongings, and to accept the consequences when they are unprepared.

8. Part II: Routines and Procedures Cont. • BIRTHDAYS • Due to the significant medical issues of numerous students having severe food allergies, North Carolina’s goal to promote wellness, and constraints of time due to our rigorous curriculum, we are requesting that birthday treats consist of a treat that can be taken home at the end of the day. We will celebrate the children’s birthdays by recognizing them on their special day. • HEALTHY SNACKS AND WATER BOTTLES • Fifth graders are allowed to eat a healthy snack in the classroom in the morning during a specified time. Cady bars, candy, sodas, etc. are NOT examples of healthy snacks. Fruit, vegetables, small bags of chips are permitted. This is optional. You and your child may want to decide together whether or not he or she needs a snack during the day. Students are not permitted to share or trade snacks. • Water bottles are allowed in class. In fact, students are encouraged to bring them during hot weather. (Please do not allow your child to fill his or her water bottle with other tasty beverages--they’re too sticky and stinky to clean up when they spill!) The water bottles will be kept in the cubbies during the school day and your child is allowed to sip water throughout the day as long as we are not actively teaching the class. Examples of appropriate times are during group work or independent study. • VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: • If you would like to volunteer to help at our school, be sure to complete the Mount Energy Volunteer form. If you would like to volunteer to chaperone for the Washington, D.C. field trip and have not filled out a background check, please pick up a form from the back table and return it with your child tomorrow. Dates will be forthcoming. • Thank you for attending. • The Fifth Grade Team

9. Contact Information: • Mrs Horton • Ext. 415 • hortons@gcs.k12.nc.us • Mrs. Whitaker • Ext. 417 • whitakerkm@gcs.k12.nc.us • Mrs. Rutter • Ext. 414 • ruttert@gcs.k12.nc.us