Welcome to 5D!

Thank you for coming this evening. We will begin promptly at 6:45. Please make sure that you have signed up for a conference and any volunteer opportunities that interest

you. Kindly write back to your child’s friendly letter, and place it inside your child’s desk folder for him/her to enjoy tomorrow morning. Thank you!

Also, though I would love to discuss your child’s progress with you this evening, confidentiality laws prohibit me from doing so in front of others. Thank you for your

understanding in this matter.

Get to Know Mrs. Sullivan • 9th year of teaching at North Allegheny

• Bachelor of Science and Masters degree from University of Pittsburgh, Main Campus • Kindergarten, 4th grade, 6th grade reading/English

• 5th year of teaching Fifth Grade

• Peebles Elementary and Ingomar Middle School

• In the process of acquiring an additional degree (reading specialist)

• Cultivate a nurturing, safe environment first and foremost.

•Build and nurture independence, responsibility, self-advocacy, and an ever-increasing inquisitive nature!

•High expectations; preparations not only for middle school but for our ever-changing, dynamic world! I know your child is your everything, and I appreciate your trust in me.

ersullivan@northallegheny.org

5D’s Daily Schedule 2015-2016Monday  Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

9:00-9:10Check In

9:00-9:10Check In

9:00-9:10Check In

9:00-9:10Check In

9:00-9:10Check In

9:10-10:20Math

9:10-10:20Math

9:10-10:20Math

9:10-10:20Math

9:10-10:20Math

10:20-11:45ELA

10:20-11:45ELA 

10:20-11:45ELA 

10:20-11:45ELA 

10:20-11:45ELA  

11:45-12:30Integrated Arts(11:30-12:30)  *Schedule on website

11:45-12:30Phys. Ed. (Hudec)

11:45-12:30Art (Devine)

11:45-12:30Music (Arnold)

11:45-12:30Library (Falkner)

12:35-1:05Lunch 

12:35-1:05Lunch

12:35-1:05Lunch

12:35-1:05Lunch

12:35-1:05Lunch  

1:05-1:35Recess

1:05-1:35Recess

1:05-1:35Recess

1:05-1:35Recess

1:05-1:35Recess

1:35-1:50Read Aloud  (Wonder)

1:35-1:50Read Aloud

1:35-2:05Band/Orchestra Ensemble  

1:35-1:50Read Aloud 

1:35-2:05Social Studies (Vandergrift)

1:50-2:30Social Studies (Vandergrift) 

1:50-2:30Tiger Time (Sullivan)

2:05-2:35ELA/Olweus Bully Prevention

1:50-2:30Science (Stewart)

2:10-2:45Science (Stewart)

2:35-3:15Science (Stewart)

2:35-3:15Social Studies (Vandergrift) 

2:35-3:15Chorus  

2:35-3:15Tiger Time (Sullivan) 

2:45-3:20Tiger Time (Sullivan)-Book Buddies with 2A

3:25 Dismissal 

3:25 Dismissal 

3:25 Dismissal 

3:25 Dismissal 

3:25 Dismissal 

Mathematics• Harcourt Math text used for foundation• Supplemental materials will be used to address the PA Core Eligible

Content not found in text• Rocket Math program

ScienceMrs. Stewart

kstewart@northallegheny.org

• Scott Foresman text used for foundation• Supplemental materials will be used to teach the concepts• Hands-on approach• Themes involving ecosystems, cells, matter and changes in matter, forces

and motion, forms of energy

Social Studies Mrs. Vandergrift

jvandergrift@northallegheny.org

• Scott Foresman text used for foundation• Supplemental materials will be used to teach the concepts• Island Maps • Colonial Child Stories (2nd semester) • Colonial Day • Frequent homework (guided notes and structured study guide) • Mrs. Vandergrift has been known to make social studies FUN with her

talent of storytelling!

Tiger TimeMrs. Sullivan

• High-interest supplemental materials will be used to both remediate and enrich in mathematics and ELA content areas

• Project-based learning is a large component • Math projects, math assignments (mini-lessons) • ELA projects (reading/writing/grammar), ELA assignments (mini-lessons) • Projects and assignments will be graded; grades will respectively go to

your child’s math teacher for any math-based projects • Tiger Time folder/portfolio and notebook (materials) • Tiger Time folder/portfolio will come home each 9 weeks for review of

graded assignments/projects and a signature sheet will need to be signed.

ELA(English Language Arts)

• Harcourt Storytown text used for foundation• Supplemental materials will be used to address the PA Core Eligible Content not

found in text (i.e. much more emphasis on expository text with PA Core!) • Whole group and Differentiated instruction (i.e. literacy centers, ‘colored’ readers) • Four major components: reading, writing, grammar, and spelling• Writing focuses (5 paragraph essays): Opinion, Narrative, and Expository• Spelling: weekly assignments alternate between choice boards (differentiation)

and spelling packet activities • Enriched Speller List: If your child is interested, please let me know by this Friday,

September 11th. He/she will be provided with 3 additional words each week from the Scripps National Spelling Bee List. We will meet on Friday mornings during warm up to discuss the words, spell the words, and have fun with the words. It will not be graded as enrichment should not indicate MORE work.

On-Line Textbooks & Resources

• For ELA: • https://www-k6.thinkcentral.com/ePC/start.do• Your student’s username = NA followed by their student ID number• Your student’s password = student ID number

• For Science and Social Studies:• www.pearsonsuccessnet.com • Your student’s username = NA followed by their student ID number • Your student's password = Tigers1

• For Math: • www.eharcourtschool.com• Your student’s username = NA followed by their student ID number• Your student’s password = student ID number

Independent Reading/Reading for Fun

• Book Reports – Not every month. We will probably complete 2-3 during the year.

• Your child should have a chapter book in her/his desk at all times. • Please make reading a part of your child’s daily routine at home!• “Children learn an average of 4,000 to 12,000 new

words each year as a result of book reading.” (Scholastic: Classroom Libraries Work!)

• Fifth Grade Ultimate Reading Challenge each semester. • Ultimate Reading Challenge is a homework assignment.

Weekly Morning Warm-Ups

“Variety keeps us on our toes and keeps things interesting!”

Monday - Grammar Guru (focus: sentence editing with a variety of mistakes)

Tuesday - Word(s) of the Day Wednesday - Greek and Latin Roots Thursday - Quick and High-interest non-fiction reads Friday - “Fantastic Friday” Trivia/mind challenges

Classroom ManagementClass Dojo

• Track progress daily/weekly • Communicate through Dojo messaging • Broadcast messages sent from Mrs. Sullivan • Rewards for a particular number of points met at varying levels• Whole group points awarded • Whole group rewards for a particular number of points met at varying levels• Ability to use my iPhone app to immediately provide feedback during the day by adding positive points or “needs work” points • Discuss “needs work” points with your child; will always be aware when these are given

5D is Surely Special!• V.I.P

• Poetry Reader of the Week

• Trivia board

• “The Brag Wall”

• Class read-alouds

• Brain Breaks to increase brain activity

Organizational Tools• Assignment Book – As soon as students get home, they should open their

assignment book to the current week and place it where both the child and parents will see it (such as the kitchen table). Students should check off the assignment in the box as it is completed. See web site for “5D Homework Policy” regarding organizational ideas.

• Binder/Expandable—travels to each academic class and home each night. Important to clean this out every so often.

• Tab dividers to separate subjects: Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading, Spelling, and Grammar. There may also be a place for special projects.

• Homework Folder or Section - “Stay at Home” and “Return to School.”

Homework• Homework Assignment Books -used on a daily basis• Homework Boards -found in each teacher’s classroom• Webpage – The teachers will update their homework pages every Friday & announce to the students if

changes need to be made during the week.• Homework Policy - Half credit if a day late and will see a teacher’s initials and date in the assignment

book. This applies to ALL 5th grade teachers. • Homework Rubric - Used to encourage neat, thoughtful, and mostly accurate completion (will be posted

to web page and shared as a paper copy)• Student responsibility – Two parts to homework: completing it and remembering it. Please do not drop

off at school. It is difficult, I know; however, this encourages responsibility. • “Super Student” Incentive Program - If a student has 0 or 1 missed assignments in a nine week grading

period, he/she will be invited to attend the Super Student luncheon. The “Super Students” will get to eat lunch in the classroom, watch a movie, pick a prize, and receive a free homework pass. Please remember that a missed parent signature counts as a missed assignment. Each student starts a clean slate every nine weeks.

*The “Homework Formula” explains that fifth graders should receive no more than (though this is clearly not always the case) 50 minutes of homework per night (10

minutes per grade level). However, this does not include extended, long-term projects.*

Pull-Outs • Band/Ensemble (whole group) – Wednesdays • Chorus (whole group) - Wednesdays • CAS/ELA support• Math Focus Group

Your child will not be responsible for any work missed during the above whole group lesson times/support pull-outs.

• Individual lessons (band/orchestra)• GOAL/CAP

Your child will be responsible to approach the teacher either early in the morning or in the afternoon to gather any missed work.

Webpage• Go to: www.northallegheny.org, Select a School (see the drop down arrow

near the top bar), McKnight Elementary School (about halfway down), Staff (on the top bar), and then scroll down to find a fifth grade teacher's name. Then you can save the webpage in your favorites for fewer clicks the next time.

Technology“Focus 2020”

• All 5th grade classrooms equipped with interactive white boards to enhance student learning

• Mr. Heckmann, our technology integrator, will team-teach some lessons!• ActiVotes • Plickers (QR codes) • Nearpod

Coming soon… access to iPad carts!

Electronic Report Cards will be issued on:

• October 30, 2015• January 28, 2016• April 6, 2016• June 16, 2016

Tyler Grade book• Go to www.northallegheny.org

• Scroll down along the left bar and double click on “Student Data Portal”

• The “Student Data Portal” is a tool that provides access to student scheduling information, assignments, grades, and contact data to both parents and students.

• To log-in, you will need to use your student ID as your User Name and the random Password that you received, which is assigned only to you.

• How to Access the Student Data Portal for the First Time - Go to https://portal.northallegheny.org/tsi_live. You will be prompted to enter the User Name and Password provided to you. First-time users will be prompted to change their password.

• Teachers update grade books weekly, within 5 days of returning a graded assignment.

• Please note the point value of assignments if you have alerts (3/5 shows as a 60%)

Getting in Touch with Mrs. Sullivan

• Please contact the office for urgent messages such as unexpected early dismissals or transportation changes rather than emailing me.

• If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, do not hesitate to contact me via phone 412 635-4101, or email ersullivan@northallegheny.org. I will try my best to answer emails and phone calls in a timely manner.

• Rule of thumb: If it seems like it’s getting a long, a call is probably best.

• Encourage your child to ask questions (self advocate)

• If you are requesting work if your child is sick/absent, please do so by 8:30 A.M. so that work can be gathered by a homework buddy and sent to the office. Work will be delivered to the office at noon for pick-up or at the end of the day, 3:30.

• Your child knows where to look for missed work upon return. It is his/her responsibility to approach the teacher with any questions. However, I always follow-up quickly at recess to review missed work and clarify instructions/set a reasonable time line for completion.

• For extended absences, please fill out a vacation form/contact me to prepare work beforehand. Work will be given one day prior to a scheduled absence or trip. Per policy, three (3) days after return to complete all work. However, we will monitor and adjust given the circumstances.

Paper Communications

• Grades – any paper with a “teacher’s writing” should be shown to you by your child.

• Unit and chapter tests in academic subjects must be signed by parents.• You should be seeing some form of graded work WEEKLY. • NA utilizes the electronic Thursday E-Blast to provide parents with

information relevant to elementary programs. Each week, parents will receive an email containing the listing of all fliers available on this webpage. By selecting the appropriate date, parents may view each flier electronically. Up to six weeks of information will remain on this page at a given time.

Volunteer Opportunities• Please bring your state-issued photo ID with you when you come to

McKnight to volunteer. Volunteers will need to "swipe in" through the Raptor System in the Front Office.

• If you have not submitted your clearances yet, they may be submitted through the rest of the school year at any school building or the CAO during normal school hours.

• The volunteer form for holiday parties will appear in the Thursday e-blast.

• Science helpers (herb garden, Science Olympics)• Field Trips• Colonial Day

Birthdays

• Edible treats are not permitted.• Please feel free to send in non-edible treats for the class, such

as pencils, gel pens, erasers, little notebooks, etc. • We have a tradition of sharing our birth weight & height.

PSSA TESTING The staff at McKnight is dedicated to not only prepare your child for the

state assessment, but to empower students to be lifelong thinkers and learners.

PA Core is NOT Common Core. It is an adaptation.

PA Core are rigorous standards with high expectations.

Visit Pennsylvania Department of Education website if you would like to view the 5th grade math and ELA academic standards.

The students are well-prepared for the exam. They need to get plenty of rest, RELAX, eat a healthy breakfast, and “show what they know.”

5th Grade Testing Dates

• ITBS (IOWA TEST OF BASIC SKILLS) – January 11-15

• PSSA ELA – April 11-15

• PSSA Math – April 18-22

• Watch out for communication prior to the PSSA for a fun “secret” project!

Olweus Bully Prevention Program

"A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions by one or more persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself.”

Class Meetings will be conducted on a regular basis to share feelings and experiences, develop a sense of community within the classroom, and aid students in solving problems.

Scheduled for Wednesdays between Band/Ensemble and Chorus.

Questions/Wrap Up

Thank you coming this evening!

KOK information packets to be distributed now.

Please head directly to the cafeteria for our Camp Kon-O-Kwee informational session to begin promptly at 7:30.

Camp Dates: October 5-7 (Mon.-Weds.)