A Successful School Year And

STAAR Success at Southern Hills

5th Grade Teachers

• Mr. Tom Brox – Social Studies• Mrs. Doni Kaufhold – Science• Mrs. Robin Carruthers – Math• Mrs. Patti Golden – Language

Arts 

Formula for Success

Students +Parents +Educators= Success

5th Grade Students

•Must pass the Math and Reading STAAR to be promoted to 6th grade

•The Science STAAR stands alone

How can parents help students experience success in school and on the

STAAR test?• Attendance• Behavior and Work Habits• Homework• Support

Attendance

• A good attendance record increases a student’s chances to develop the skills necessary to be successful in life AND

• Increases the student’s chances to pass the STAAR

If school is in session, your child should be in school, unless

• Your child is sick OR• A death has occurred in the

immediate family• Occasionally doctor appointments

must be scheduled during school-this should be the exception and not the rule

Remember

•Positive school attendance results in positive academic achievement

Behavior

•Encourage your child to make good choices about behavior

Work Habits

• Come to school with homework completed

• Come to class with the necessary materials

• Come to school with a positive attitude

Homework

• Reinforces skills learned in class

• Challenges students to think• Fosters independent learning

Discipline Plan

• Sent home copies in Tue folder• Conduct and work habit issues are

separate• Cuts will be noted in the Assignment

spirals• Grades entered for 4 1/2 week periods• Start fresh with 100 every 4 1/2 weeks• 9 week grade is an average of 2 grades

Positive Reinforcement

•  Positive notes written in the assignment spiral

• Celebration Time on Friday as time permits

• Individual teacher rewards-more computer time, more choices, treasure chest, etc.

Responsibility and Support

• Students are responsible for writing all their homework assignments in their assignment spirals

• Teachers use the spirals to communicate with parents regarding student activities and behavior

• Parents should check assignment spirals every night

• Parents should sign the assignment spiral every night

Expect …in General

• Math homework M, Tu, W, and Th night

• Students should read 20-30 minutes every night

• Language Arts homework on M, Tu,W and Th nights

• Science and Social Studies homework as needed

Expect…in Language Arts

• All major projects and choice boards will be assigned in writing and explained verbally

• Student and teacher conferences with written goals • Students learn to work independently and follow

checklists• Students to monitor their own learning and evaluate

learning experiences (with teacher guidance)-what works for them and strategies to get them unstuck

Expect ….in Science

• Daily question warm-up• Look for notes/vocabulary in your child’s

composition book. Review with your child and ask what they are learning

• Check Science folder for hand outs and graded papers• Grades come from daily work, quizzes, tests and labs.• STEMSCOPES.COM

Expect…in Social Studies

• Daily Journal Entries• Individual and class participation• Weekly quiz and test• Making American History fun

respectfully

Expect …in Math

• Math facts• Class Notes/Examples• Homework• Wednesday-computation quiz• Friday-homework quiz

Support

• Healthy food choices feed a student’s body and brain

• A good night’s rest helps students focus on school work

• Sign the assignment spiral every night-look for conduct issues, work habit concerns and homework completion

Support …

• Be sure your child reads 20-30 minutes each day

• Be sure your child shows their work for every Math problem

Ask Questions – Get Answers

• What did you do in Math class? (It was not nothing.)

• What happened in the book you are reading?

• What did you learn in Science class today?

• What are you studying in Social Studies?

Educators

• Provide a safe learning environment

• Design challenging learning opportunities

• Are examples of life long learners• Have effective classroom

management skills

Working Together for

A Successful Year At Southern Hills