Dr. Fletcher’s Fifth Grade Class 2012 -2013 Welcome, Parents and Students!

Be the Best of Whatever You Are ! Welcome to Fifth Grade! Our Class Motto Be the Best of Whatever You Are !

All About Dr. Fletcher My background I grew up in Jamaica. I attended Ocho Rios Elementary, Excelsior High, and Mico Teachers’ College (JA), Lehman College and PACE University (NY) and Argosy University Nashville My experience I’ve been an educator for 30+ years. I have also taught in Jamaica and New York. I love to teach!

In Our Class We: Five Bs Have A Whisper Club Voice Rules BE Respectful Be Responsible Be Receptive Be Honest and Be Ready 0 – No Talking 1 – Whisper 2 – Group 3 - Class Level 4 – Outside Voice

My Family I have no pets I love plants and gardening I am married and have two adult sons (Michael and Gordon-Andrew) I have no pets I love plants and gardening I love to cook, read, and sing My favorite color is Black

My Goals To give your child the academic and social skills he or she need to progress to in fifth grade. To provide a supportive and fun classroom environment. To help your child make new friends and discover new interests.

Class Subjects Academic Subjects Taught: Literacy Social Studies

Reading Explore Different Genres’ using 21st century reading strategies and skills

Writing We use the Writing Process to develop 21st Century Writing Skills to write: Opinion Writings Personal Narrative Descriptive essays Expository essays Poems Friendly letters

Literacy We use the McGraw Hill Language Arts Text to support and enhance our practices in grammar, vocabulary, and writing.

Morning Arrival Students may arrive at 7:30 – 7:35am for breakfast in the side door by the theater 7:45 – 8:00am at the main doors Arrival before 7:30am is not permitted.

Dismissal Students are dismissed in this order MTA Bus Riders Car Riders Walkers, YMCA, After school activities

Fine Arts and Related Arts Fine Arts Classes Related Arts Classes Fine Arts Classes Band or Strings Fine Arts Rotation Chorus Dance Drama Visual Art Related Arts Classes Reader’s Theater Art Appreciation Music Appreciation Photography

Common Core State Standards MNPS is incorporating the new Common Core State Standards in Literacy and Math. All subjects, including Social Studies, Science, and Fine Arts, will incorporate reading and writing skills. Assessments and homework will look different this year.

Arts Integration Because we are an Arts Magnet, we meet the unique learning style of your student by incorporating art into all that we do.

Class Projects Brief description of classroom projects to look forward to goes in this section. Social Studies: Design Your Own Town Literacy: The Watsons/Birmingham 1963

Field Trips What are some possible field trips? We are still working on this and will inform you ASAP.

Social Studies Our history, geography, culture, economics, and global studies is supported by Gibbs Smith’s Tennessee Through The Later Years Text.

Lunch We are happy to be a Bronze level healthy school, which we earned because of the healthy choices we offer for lunch. It is important that your student eats a healthy lunch every day. You are welcome to eat lunch with your student at one of the back round tables. Please be sure to sign in at the office. Lunch time is 10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Classroom Community Our classroom is a community. In our community, we have rules to help us get along with each other. Our class rules are: Be respectful and responsible. Be organized and follow directions. Be on time Don’t Be Late

Daily work and Homework Each week your child will be given a menu and calendar of in class academic activities, and homework assignments All homework assignments are due at the end of the week I need your support to ensure that your child completes all assignments and projects

MNPS and Creswell’s Policies IT Creswell adheres to the district policies and standards All lessons are guided by the State of Tennessee Common Core Standards Students are expected to be in standard attire each day

Check Point Grades will be posted every two weeks on Gradespeed Dr. Fletcher’s contact information Email: Sharilyn.Fletcher@mnps.org Phone: 615-291-6515 ext. 1105 Location: Room 105 Planning Period: 11:20 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Parents are welcome to visit my class anytime, we have an open door policy here at Creswell Dr. Fletcher’s wish list – Color Paper and continued restock of supplies

Let’s Have a Awesome Year!