North Joshua Elementary The Fifth Grade Team Mrs. Ann Barr

North Joshua Elementary The Fifth Grade Team Mrs. Ann Barr Mrs. Lana Whitworth Mrs. Heather Tate 5th Grade

Lorax Leaders • Heather Tate • Ann Barr • Lana Whitworth 5th Grade

Joshua ISD will be a highly acclaimed model of educational excellence.

Owl Pride: Exemplary Success Through Commended Performance Excellence. . .for all. . .from all NJE Mission Statement The mission of North Joshua Elementary is to create and maintain an environment that effectively and efficiently provides a high level of academic achievement in a safe and orderly environment for every student in the school as measured by state and federal standards and stakeholder surveys. We commit to provide a comprehensive system of support to assure this outcome. 5th Grade

NJE Mission • North Joshua empowers children to become students of outstanding character with a passion for learning. 5th Grade

Math • Math Books/Envision (online)/Target What your child needs to know to promote to 6th grade: • Place value to the tenths/hundredths/thousandths • Add/Subtract/Multiply and divide 2 and 3 digit numbers with decimals in word problems • Use fractions in problem solving situations (equivalent and compare) 5th Grade

Math Cont. • Make generalizations about data on graphic organizers like tables, charts and diagrams in the context of problem solving • Model transformations: slides, turns, and flips on a coordinate grid • Measure and figure perimeter, area, volume in context of problem solving • Make predictions/probability in problem solving context 5th Grade

Math cont. • Graph data, interpret data such as mean, median, mode and range • Perform simple conversions within the same system (metric/customary) • Solve problems about elapsed time Just to name a few things! How can you help? I am so glad you asked! • Send your kids to school (unless they have fever) • Make sure they do their homework (no more than 30 min for math) • Communicate with me and them! 5th Grade

Math Q & A 5th Grade

What do we have to learn in 5th Grade Science? Our Science Curriculum is divided into 4 areas: • Matter and Energy • Force, Motion, and Energy • Earth and Space • Organisms and Environments 5th Grade

How are we going to learn it? • Science Lab weekly in addition to labs in the classroom • Seeing Science Structures (SSS) • Think Sheets • RUMBLE strategy • Science Camps • Science Fair: No longer required, but highly encouraged! 5th Grade

How do we know if 5th Graders are learning it? • Weekly Quizzes with cumulative vocabulary assessments • 6 Weeks District Science Test • Practice! RUMBLE questions every week • Mock STAAR test in the Spring 5th Grade

Language Arts • Writing, Grammar, and Spelling • Writing=Narrative & Expository, as well journal writing & note taking. All writing should be in cursive. • Spelling-Bi -weekly Tests on Fridays • The words are thematic and can be found in the newsletter and practiced at www.Quizlet.com 5th Grade

Reading • 30 minutes of AR Reading at home • Bookmark Reading Log • Novel Units & Textbooks • Vocabulary (online help) • PRIDE strategy • STAAR test focus: • Understanding & Analysis across genres • Understanding & Analysis of Literary Texts • Undertstanding & Analysis of Informational Texts 5th Grade

The Bookmark is the reading log that 5th grade uses. It should be filled out each evening that your child reads. They are expected to read 5 nights a week. Reading in car rider line or am in the gym does not really count on the bookmark because students need to practice the 30 minutes of sustained reading to build stamina. • The bookmarks are given on Monday, and due the following Monday. There is a place for a parent signature, and it should be signed over the weekend, before they turn it in on Monday. Even if the book is not finished, all portions should be completed and turned in. • A child at or below grade level on their grade equivalency in Reading should read at the TOP end of their ZPD for most growth and improvement. In other words, more practice reading at 5th grade level makes them more prepared for a 5th grade test! • 25 points are possible on each bookmark. • After completing 4 passing bookmarks, they will get one week off of the book reading log. However, THEY STILL MUST COMPLETE THE NIGHTLY READING! They just don’t have to do the bookmark, or paperwork, that week. • Even when a student meets their AR goal, they still must complete a bookmark unless the teacher is offering a special incentive. If that is the case, it will also be included in the newsletter. • Please ask them to keep their reading log bookmark in their book. It should come to class with them each day and will be checked frequently during Reading Class. • AR point goals will be set up on an individual basis , taking into consideration the student’s STAR results which gives a reading level, or grade equivalency. They WILL be successful at meeting their goal if they are completing their 30 minutes of nightly reading. • We celebrate 90’s and 100’s on their AR quizzes, in class, by signing the 100s chart. It’s a competition between the classes to see who can get there first. Each member of the class that signed the board at least once will then receive a reward. • They should be finishing a book about every two weeks. Log on to Home Connect through Renaissance Learning to see how your child is doing towards their goal. You can even set it up to send you emails each time they take an AR quiz. • Reluctant readers do well with books on tape, and with multiple copies of the same novel (one to keep at school and one for home). Set a timer on the microwave or a hand held timer. Perhaps read a few minutes TO them to get them started. • Bluebonnet awards will be given out at the end of the year to students that have read at least 5 of the 20 Bluebonnet books for the 2013-2014 school year. They must be of the current Bluebonnet Nominees (found at the public or NJE library). • Book orders are a great way to get the kids excited about reading, get them a personal copy of a class novel, and get award winning titles for a DEAL! It also helps earn free titles to add to the class library. • Please see Mrs. Tate’s webpage for more information about poems to memorize. • Students have a vocabulary packet of 10-16 words to master and test on every 2 weeks. They can study & practice them at Quizlet.com. On the week there is a packet, there is no test. The week without a packet is the week they will test. Reading & Language Arts VIPs (Very Important Points)…

5th Grade

Social Studies • American history • Living Museum-Research a famous person from a list. Students use their research to dress like and become that person telling about their life. This takes place in May. 5th Grade

Communication • Skyward family access & message center • NJE website and weekly newsletter • Communication folder • Alert Now (phone calls) • Email • The old fashion way – telephone! 5th Grade

CommunicatorCHECK DAILY & SIGN WEEKLY • Look over their STAR sheet (behavior & assignments) • Weekly Newsletter - computerized (Let us know if you need hard copy) • Graded work each week should come home on Wednesday (please save assignments for the end-of-the-year Café Day. 5th Grade

Attendance • Call or e-mail to notify the school • www.joshuaisd.org • Extension 1789 • Tardies • Our start time is 8:00. • Early Dismissal • Doctor’s Notes Excused/Unexcused 5th Grade

Opportunities at North Joshua • UiL • Gifted and Talented (GT) – ongoing nominations/GT center/differentiations daily • Student Council • CEO’s • Choir • Chess Club • Science Fair • TOTs 5th Grade

Assessments • Benchmarks • Star Reading/Math • AR Goals • Assessment Report Card • Weekly tests • STAAR Test/SSI/RTI (interventions) 5th Grade

Please purchase a sturdy basket for your child to use throughout the school year. It needs to fit inside the student desks and cubbies. Please have a look at the examples. As requested in supply lists, NO BINDERS. More Stuff… 5th Grade

· The Joshua ISD Education Foundation solicits donations which are awarded to qualifying teachers through a grant process. · To date, the Foundation has contributed close to $125,000.00 to our schools. · Every school has benefitted from Foundation funding. · Please consider supporting this outstanding organization by making a financial contribution, offering your time, or participating in their 1st Annual Golf Tournament in October. · More information is available tonight at their table in the Lobby, or on their website accessible through the link on the District’s main page. www.JoshuaEducationFoundation.org

“Never underestimate the power of giving; it will find its way back to you in more ways than one.” - Brett Petersel

Your donation to theJoshua ISD Education Foundation is an investment in our schoolsand community! www.joshuaeducationfoundation.org • District-wide 5th grade science field trip to UNT • Lego Robotics Team 5th Grade

Permanently honor your outstanding student, favorite teacher, special family member or friend! From August 17 through September 30, leaves on the Ray Dane Tree of Excellence, located in the foyer of Acker Auditorium, will be available for purchase. During this special event, your $200 contribution will be acknowledged with an inscription on a leaf with your honoree’s name and/or your own.

In Closing… • Remember to review the handouts we have provided for information on foods of minimal nutritional value, JISD grading policy and the gifted and talented program Q & A . 5th Grade

North Joshua Elementary The Fifth Grade Team Mrs. Ann Barr