5TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTSSchool Year 2012-2013

READINGFirst Trimester Focus will be on story elements and good

reader strategies.

Second Trimester Focus will be on historical fiction.

Third Trimester We will complete an author study.

***Students continue to practice tracking their thoughts as they read throughout the year.

READING – CONTINUED

Whole Class Novel (read aloud, peer, or independent reading).

---The whole class novel is used for modeling and practice with story elements and good reader strategies.

Independent Novels (these are chosen by level and/or interest).

---Application of story elements and good reader strategies through reading response journals and assigned activities.

WRITING

Review basic complete sentence structure which will include learning how to improve sentences by making them detailed and more interesting.

Review basic paragraph structure – students will improve organization and developing ideas.

Essay development – developing topic, organization, sentence structure, conventions, and voice.

WRITING PIECES

Personal NarrativeMysteryResearch PaperPersuasive LetterBook ReviewCompare/ContrastPoetry

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

We will also be focusing on the following ideas and activities throughout the year:

1. Vocabulary Study2. Spelling (root words, prefixes, and suffixes)3. Comprehension Skills (main idea,

cause/effect, fact/opinion, etc.)4. Time for Kids (analysis

of non-fiction text)

GRADING - READING

Reading Journal Responses30%

Independent Reading Comprehension35%

Homework10%

Class Work 25%

GRADING – WRITING

Essay 40%

Class Work/homework 25%

Assessment 35%

ABSENCES AND MISSED WORK

If a student is absent they have the same amount of days after they return to school to complete missed assignments. Example: Student misses 2 days of school, he or

she has 2 days to complete missed assignments.

HOMEWORK

o Homework is expected to be turned in on time.

o If homework is a day late, the student will receive a 50%.

o Reading response journals (RRJs) are the exception to this rule. They are also expected to be turned in on time, but if turned in late, the RRJ will be scored and the score will be reduced by 10%.

Our goal is to help students reach a higher level of thinking and apply what they’ve learned in prior years.

Student

Parents Teacher