Back-To-School Night

Mrs. Felix’s Class2012-2013

“We are continuous learners who are responsible, caring citizens in a global

community.”

•Philosophy of Education–Bee Story

•5th Grade Policies •Specific Classroom

Procedures•5th Grade Curriculum

Agenda for Our Evening Together

According to 20th century folklore, the laws of aerodynamics prove that the bumblebee should be incapable of flight, as it does not have the capacity (in terms of wing size or beat per second) to achieve flight with the degree of wing loading necessary.

Thankfully, no one told the bumblebee that it can’t fly! He doesn’t know that he “can’t.” And today, he goes about his business, buzzing happily through the air.

Take risks you (and they) never thought possible!

- Work hard for the goals they desire

- Work cooperatively with others headed the same direction

- Discover the power of living like the bumblebee.

No matter WHAT you set out to do in life, if you

work hard enough, practice, and believe you can achieve something-

YOU WILL!!!

Join the swarm- students, teachers,

and parents all have to work

together to make it a great year!

Join me in encouraging your child to FLY this year!

2.4 mile swim

112 mile bike

26.2 mile run

Always MODEL what you expect-Effort & Hard work, Continuous learning

•Character Ed•Discipline Policy•Homework Policy

5th Grade Policies & Procedures

Character Education

Building a community of responsible, respectful students who are

compassionate and care for one another.

Character Ed: Star of the Week

1. Friendly Letter format & writing

2. Community-strengthener3. Confidence-builder

Character Ed: The Buzz

1. Encourage your child to share!

2. Look out for “The Buzz” on students in our newsletter!

Discipline Policy

Designed to allow students to take accountability for their actions and give them the chance to make it right before

involving parents.

1. Verbal Warning2. Green Slip- between teacher & student3. Yellow Slip- between teacher, parent, &

student4. Red Slip- between teacher, parent, student,

& principal

Homework Policy

Our policy is designed to teach responsibility and accountability- necessary skills to be successful

in life! Practice with Purpose, not “HOMEWORK”. There IS a difference!

1. Late Assignment Warning Slip = Communication with you & reminder for student to complete work that night.

2. 10% off of assignment each day it is late = incentive to get it done on time

3. Slipped By? Not accepted after Thursday print-out is due.

Tip: Start by making homework a positive experience- positive attitude, set up daily time, place, materials, & provide support.

Fun & Focus

Designed to allow students to learn from mistakes, and to learn that positive things

come from being responsible.1. Time to get extra help from teacher

2. Time to complete missing work3. Time for reflection for behavioral

indescretions4. Focus Slip NEEDS to be signed by you &

returned Monday

MISTAKES ARE OKAY!

Please help your child by teaching them to:

• Recognize when they have made a mistake• Recognize that EVERYONE makes mistakes and that

we remember best those lessons learned through making a mistake

• Take accountability for their mistake “with grace”• Move on by creating a plan to not repeat the mistake

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=inspirational+you+tube+clips+on+mistakes&mid=9249B8E52FAC1062F2209249B8E52FAC1062F220&view=detail&FORM=VIRE3

Assignment Board• Assignment Board:

– Filled out daily & NOT signed by teacher or parent (to start)

– Last 10-15 minutes every day

– On overhead

– In RED, assignments due tomorrow

– In BLACK, long-term work

– Expected amount of time

– Printable copies for students who are out of room Write

it down

!

Grade Reports

Be “in the know” the whole year through…NO surprises!

1. Every other week2. Some assignments take longer to grade & will be

on next print-out3. Be sure to return it signed, feel free to make

copies4. Late assignments need to be completed, attached

to print-out and hand it in by the due date of the print-out or it is a zero.

What does my child do if they are in Band/ Orchestra

• We VALUE music education• Band/Orchestra are electives and pull

students from instruction time.• Rotating schedule• “We Missed You” sheets• Student responsibility to:

– ask questions– get clarification– find out what they missed– Complete all missed work (same day)

Other what-to-do ifs…• Doesn’t “get it”?

– Review notes from class– Call homework buddy– Ask you for help– Write a note/email BEFORE school the next morning

• Has very important family obligations/event?– Parent write a note/email/phone call (we have families,

too, and DO understand! )• Takes much longer than 50-60 minutes to complete

assignments?– No-distraction environment– Parent “supervision”– Set a timer & allow mini-breaks– LET’S CONFERENCE!

• Seems to be starting habit of late work?– NIP IT IN THE “BUD”! Let’s ALL conference immediately

• Organization

• Friday Folders

• Weekly Newsletter

• Book Orders

Felix’s Classroom Logistics

• Checked each morning & recorded.

• Go BACK INTO expandable to be graded, and/or turned in as we get to each subject. – discuss each assignment– practice for MSN– organizational skills– collection process allows for no papers lost (HANDED RIGHT TO

ME.)

• Papers returned to students right away, but kept in mailboxes to be sent via Friday Folders. (SOME EXCEPTIONS- practice needed for active study)

• Expandable file- helps keep “working” papers in organized manner

• Friday Folder contents returned to school- I teach organizational skills on Monday morning.

• Students keep papers- graded or not- until TEST is RETURNED (used as study aids)

Organization, Homework Turn-In, etc.

Friday Folders A great way to touch-base with your child and

assess their progress…1. All graded work comes home at one time2. You keep news/flyers; SEND BACK TO SCHOOL

ALL GRADED WORK! I will teach your children how to organize this year!

3. Sit down with your child to review it- 5-10 minutes is all you need.

4. Print-outs every other week (compare!)-grade reports-missing assignment reports

Weekly Newsletters

Keep up with what we’ve been up to & upcoming events

1. Please DO read! (pretty please?!)2. Expect each Friday -except for short weeks & rare occasions

-quick email updates

3. Check your spam settings4. Do not “reply all”, start a new thread

Book Orders

1. Coming Soon!

2. Online ordering only3. Not sent out when School Fundraisers

are available (Book Fair)

•Math•Spelling•Reading

•Social Studies•Science/Outdoor Ed

5th Grade Curriculum

Passwords to all online books &

resources will be inside front cover of child’s assignment

notebook.

5th Grade Curriculum:Technology

• YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO KNOW THEIR FACTS!– Please read article on “Math Fluency”– www.xtramath.org is a requirement

• RealMath is a challenging curriculum & requires students to remember mastered skills!

• 5th Grade team will be trying out flexible grouping across classrooms this year after chapter 2

• ALL students to work on MAP Math “target work” (link on website)

• Math textbook online

Mathematics

Designed to help kids spell the most frequently used words & build new vocabulary

• www.spellingcity.com is a requirement• Instant Words• Regular spelling lists:

– Root words, prefixes, suffixes– Vocabulary building

Spelling

Designed to equip students with the specific strategies each of them needs to make them great readers

• CARS Tests & Individual Assessment• www.raz-kids.com (Benchmark Running Records)• Guided Reading & Individual Goal Progress-

Monitoring• Daily Five & C.A.F.E.• Independent Reading• MAP Reading “target work” & individualized

practice

Reading

• 2nd Year for series: The Write Source• 6+1 Writing• Narrative, Expository, Persuasive District Writing

Assessments• Writer’s Workshop• Online component (games to earn points for

creating avatar)• C.P.C.S. (Capitals, Punctuation, Complete

Sentences) & other covered skills are expected in daily writing– Help your child double-check their work!

Writing

• Revolutionary War• Westward

Expansion• Civil War• Online textbook• Simulations &

webquests, etc.

Social Studies

• NEW series: National Geographic• Online component & hands-on

experiments• Scientific Method• Weather• Animal Adaptations &TAFT Prep• Force & Motion• Human Health & Development

Science & Outdoor Ed

• A project we will work on all year

• Collects writing, feelings, self-reflection, personal experiences, artwork, & creativity from your child throughout the year

• Will be bound and taken home as a “forever keepsake” last day of school.

All Subjects: The All About Me Book

• Email is preferred (easier to get to throughout the day)

• Call anytime (will get back to you a.s.a.p.)– Please give a heads-up if leaving a

message

• If there are changes to afterschool transportation- call OFFICE

• WEBSITE! Project for this year!

Contact Me

Before you buzz home…

• Please write to your child about something you learned and are excited for.

• Fill out all forms:– Volunteer– Internet Permission for your child

• Sign Up for Parent-Teacher Conference!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING!!! THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME YEAR!