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FIFTH GRADE CURRICULUM
AND CLASSROOM INFORMATION

MRS. CHERYL FISCHLER

&

MRS. KELLY WICK

INTEGRATED LANGUAGE ARTS

       Harcourt's Trophies is a literature-based integrated language arts program.  It is organized around 6 themes, which help students...

• realize they are a part of a large interdependent world.

• develop a sense of responsibility

• discover how different authors present issues about the same theme

• make connections among books and in real-life situations

FIFTH GRADE THEMES

• Look Inside (Self-Discovery)
• Teamwork  (Working Together)
• A Changing Planet  (Growth & Change)
• Express Yourself (Creativity)
• School Rules  (Communities)
• American Adventure  (Exploration)

KEY POINTS

• Emphasis on FLUENCY
  --Quickly
  --Accurately
  --With prosody (Expression and intonation)
  --With good understanding
• Phonics, Phonemic Awareness and reading aloud continue to be stressed
• Includes reading and study skills, spelling, grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary.
• To address higher and lower reading levels, we have the following resources:
     1. Books for All Learners
     2. Leveled Book Library
     3.  Audio Tapes

ASSESSMENTS

1. End of story
   --Tests vocabulary and comprehension (Mostly multiple choice)
2. End of Theme
   --Assesses student's progress as readers and writers.
   --Uses authentic reading selections related to the theme.
   --Contains written and multiple choice comprehension questions, word-skill questions, and a proof-reading section.

For additional information, go to www.harcourtschool.com

    MATH

        Fifth grade math curriculum integrates Houghton-Mifflin Math Central with the Investigations series.  All lessons are standards-based which will prepare the children for PSSA testing, the assessment developed for Pennsylvania standards.

        Math Central provides a balance of experiences--direct instruction and cooperative learning, hands-on activities and paper and pencil tasks, real world applications along with projects, math games, and basic fact practice.  Problem solving is incorporated into each chapter as individual strategies are studied.

       The Investigations series emphasizes depth in mathematical thinking by offering meaningful mathematical problems.

       Most days begin with our opening, 15 MINUTES TO MATH SUCCESS. 

• FACT OF THE DAY  (6+8=14)
• WORD OF THE DAY  (Perimeter)
• MEASUREMENT OF THE DAY  (How wide is the door?  With your hands, show me 30 centimeters.)
• ESTIMATE OF THE DAY  (About how much change will I get back if I buy Hershey Kisses for $.78 if I use a dollar?)
• PROBLEM OF THE DAY  (What is the perimeter of my yard when all sides are 40 feet?)

              MRS. FISCHLER'S
MATHWIZARDS' BLOG

                                                                        (Click on the wizard)

MRS. WICK'S    Blog
(Click on the cat)

  SOCIAL STUDIES

SOCIAL STUDIES THEMES:

• Change
• Citizenship
• Conflict
• Culture
• Interdependence
• Scarcity
• Spatial Relations

UNITS OF STUDY

• Map and Geography Skills
• Explorers
• Colonial Times
• French and Indian War
• American Revolution
• Constitution and Government

SCIENCE

   ASSET MODULES

1. Motion and Design--provides the opportunity to explore the physics of motion and to apply those concepts to technological design.

2. Microworlds--provides the opportunity to explore using hand lenses and simple microscopes.

3. Ecosystems--provides the opportunity to explore the interdependence between all organisms in an ecosystem.

SPECIALS SCHEDULE FOR 2008-09

MONDAY	Library
TUESDAY	Health & Art
WEDNESDAY	FLES...Spanish
THURSDAY	FLEX/Chorus/Gym
FRIDAY	Music/Gym

FIFTH GRADE INFORMATION

1. Students should report to school no earlier than  8:20 in the morning and 12:20 in the afternoon. 
2. Students should enter the building at the first bell.  That is 8:35 for the morning and 12:45 for the afternoon.
3. Children should use sidewalks and crosswalks when going to or from school.  They should not cut through private property.
4. After all levels have been dismissed, all children should be clear of the building unless they have an after-school appointment with a teacher or after-school sports.
5. Children should wear appropriate footwear and dress appropriately in cold weather for outside play.
6. Chewing gum is not permitted on school property or on a school bus.
7. Students are not permitted to bring sports equipment from home for use on the playground.
8. Bicycles, skates, and rollerblades are discourage at Jefferson.  Skateboards are not permitted on school property at any time.
9. If it is a necessity that a student has to eat lunch at another student's home or to go to a nearby restaurant, a written note from both parents should be submitted to the homeroom teacher.  This helps us to know where the children are at all times.
10. Children may visit the library from 8:20-8:35 AM and after school from 3:30-3:45 PM each day.  The only exception is on Monday and Thursday.  The library closes at 3:30 for After-School Sports.
11. Upon their return to school after an absence, other than from a pre-excused absence, the children need to bring a written excuse