Welcome to 5 th Grade

1. Welcome to 5th Grade Teachers: Ms. Brown, Miss Childs, Ms. McKinney and Miss Moorman

2. What do we teach? • Mrs. Brown and Miss Childs specialize in Mathematics. • Miss Moorman specializes in Science. • Ms. McKinney specializes in Social Studies. • All of us teach a section of Reading, Writing, English, and Spelling.

3. Our Daily Schedule • 8:30-8:55 Arrival, Announcements, Attendance, and Lunch Count • 8:55-11:30 Reading and Language Arts + Specials • 11:30-12:30 Math, Science, or Soc. St. • 12:30-1:30 Math, Science, or Soc. St. & Lunch • 1:30-3:00 Math, Science, or Soc. St. • 3:00-3:45 Remediation and Enrichment

4. What objectives do we teach? • The Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) which is now the Common Core Standards and Strategies (CCSS) guide our instruction. • All tested standards must be taught before the CRCTs are administered.

5. Upcoming Formal Assessments • Fifth Grade Writing Test -March 6, 2013 • Criterion Reference Competency Tests or CRCTs -April 8-19, 2013

6. Writing Test • Student will receive one of 3 possible prompts. -Narrative -Informational -Persuasive • Students cannot choose their writing prompt. They must be competent in all 3 genres.

7. How is the Writing Test Graded? • Ideas -The writer makes what s/he wants to say clear and includes details. • Organization -The writer organizes their ideas so that their writing is focused and doesn’t ramble. • Style -The writer includes personal experiences, a variety of sentences, and the reader is engaged. • Convention -The writer uses good grammar, spells words correctly, can write a sentence.

8. CRCTs • Minimum score to meet expectations is 800. • In order to be promoted to 6th grade, a student must make at least 800 on the Math and Reading portion of the CRCT.

9. What happens if your childdoes not meet minimum expectations or score at least 800? • Students that do not score at least 800 on the Math and Reading portion of the CRCT will participate in Spring Remediation. This means that the 5th Grade teachers will provide remediation and intensive review of the skills that will be tested.

10. What happens if your childmeets expectations and scores at least 800 or above? • The goal is for every student to work to improve their CRCT score from year to year. The 5th Grade teachers will give the students who meet or exceed expectations a head start on 6th Grade skills. The teachers at Rutland Middle School have given us a list of skills they would like for us to introduce to our students.

11. Meaningful instruction does not end after the CRCTs are given. Each student still has skills and objectives to master.

12. Homework Agendas • Each child has received a homework agenda. • It should be kept in their binder. • All homework assignments should be recorded in the agenda. • If the agenda is lost, another one can be purchased for $5.00. Only the first one is free.

13. Homework Expectations • Research has proven that students need to practice new skills. • We practice some in class but this is not enough. • Students need more practice time and this is where homework very important. • All homework assignments are due by their due dates. Students will receive a Zero (0) and/or points for late assignments or for assignments not turned in at all.

14. What type of homework can you expect? • Solve math problems. Create math problems and solve. Explain steps to solve a math problem. • Read every night. Every student will be allowed to check out 2 books. • Social Studies-activities and study notes • Science-Work on Science Fair Project, study notes, and/or complete written activities.

15. Snacks • Lunch for 5th Grade starts at 12:40. • Students are allowed to bring a nutritious snack each day. Examples of appropriate snacks are: pretzels, granola bars, fruit, cheese sticks, vegetable sticks, & PBJ sandwich. • Students are not allowed to bring candy, chips, snacks that require a utensil, or sweet cookies. If these are brought your child will not be permitted to snack on them. • Snack is allowed between times of 10:00-11:00 (determined by the teacher). • Gum and candy are not permitted. • Bottled water is allowed and encouraged.

16. Dress Code • We strictly enforce the Dress Code outlined in the Heard Handbook. • Please go over the Heard Handbook expectations and ensure your child meets those guidelines each day.

17. Attendance • If your child is out please send us a note that is dated and signed. • If your child has a serious health issue that will require your him or her to be absent a lot please let us know. • Starting with the 6th tardy, your child will receive one discipline point for each tardy for the rest of the year. This count does not start over every 9 weeks. • Attendance affects your child’s learning and can have an adverse effect on the school’s AYP status.

18. PTA • We ask that you strongly consider joining PTA They provide 5th Grade and every grade at Heard with a lot of support and enrichment opportunities. • Dr. A, the Cool Scientist and Okeefenokee Joe are just two of the popular opportunities that they provide for your child.

19. Mathematics We do not have a textbook. Standards and pupil frameworks are online for your viewing at www.georgiastandards.org .

20. Science

21. Social Studies

22. What skills will help your child be a successful 5th Grader. • Be organized • Be at school everyday • Be prepared • Be responsible • Be a leader not a follower

23. Parents, Thank you for your support.