Welcome to English – Grade 5 With Mrs. Lisa Haywood

Course overview: Builds upon reading skills mastered in fourth grade Emphasis on comprehension Good readers understand what they’re reading! Good readers read for specific purposes – information, entertainment, enrichment, inspiration

Summer Reads Wonder – RJ Palacio Matilda – Dahl Introduces concepts presented in CPR Matilda – Dahl Great book for exploring character

Texts: Hatchet – Gary Paulson Esperanza Rising - Pam Muñoz Ryan 5th graders will use text to understand and strengthen comprehension strategies Esperanza Rising - Pam Muñoz Ryan Use text to understand figurative language such as simile, metaphor and personification

As well as… Reading Street text – comprehension of non-fiction text (Common Core) Introduce Literature circles using a number of historical fiction novels Biography Personal choice novel Poetry – appreciation and writing

Writing Journal entries, narratives, paragraph structure Biography Research project on Ancient Greece Poems Literature response activities Also…vocabulary words and G.U.M days once a cycle

Goals Strengthen reading skills, esp. comprehension Develop life-long readers Encourage them to write like their favorite writers and authors Encourage them to read with a writer’s eye Improve mechanics and usage Increase vocabulary

Grades Projects and papers based on literature Vocabulary tests Grammar quizzes Comprehension tests based on novels Tests are worth 40% of grade Quizzes and projects worth 25% Homework worth 10%

Policy for late work One point off for every day it is late. Let me know, in advance, if you’re planning a trip or extended absence. Encourage student to talk to me and take control of situation. Sometimes they learn best when they experience consequences. If they lose a point this time, it may not happen again.

We are partners! Please feel free to communicate any problems or concerns you have. I will often email or call you before behaviors or problems become out of hand. If a project seems unfair or confusing, please contact me. Often it’s just a miscommunication. I want to get to know your student. Let’s set up a connections meeting! Please sign up for fall/spring conferences.