Welcome to Fifth Grade! Please find your child’s desk and read the note your child left for you. Kindly open your child’s hand card and write a brief message back to your child.

Prayer for the Beginning of the New School Year Dear Lord, as we begin this new school year, we gather once again as Your community of believers. We thank You for the energy and the spirit that You renewed in us through the summer months. We thank You for the time to enjoy our family and friends and to reflect on what is important in our lives. Let this year be marked by enthusiasm and love so that, with the inspiration of Your Spirit, we may continue to grow in our faith. Help us to fulfill Your hope for us with honest intentions and works of faith. Let us be gentle with ourselves and bring laughter, joy and love to others. We ask this in your name. Amen.

A Little About Mrs. Berger  Graduated from Millersville University in  BS in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education.  Currently attending the University of Scranton.  Seventh year teaching, fifth at St. Leo’s.  4 th grade – two years in NC  4 th grade – one year at St. Leo’s  5 th grade  Twin boys and two daughters

Classroom Management Positive Reinforcement (H-E-A-V-E-N - marbles) Be fair, consistent, and understandable  Fair is not always equal Deal with disruptions with as little interruption as possible Visuals Classroom Rules –Be respectful to everyone. –Listen attentively. –Raise your hand to speak. –Be patient. –Be responsible – Be the best that you can be.

Homework Planners - responsibility Policy –Homework detention will be given for four or more missed or incomplete homework assignments. One missed assignment – 1st warning Two missed assignments – 2nd warning Three missed assignments – 3rd warning Four missed assignments – Homework detention –A homework notice will be sent home for every missed or incomplete assignment. –After one hour, close the books. Please do not spend more than an hour on homework. Still unfinished? Send in a note. I need a note to avoid the hw notice.

Content Reading Integrated and skill based – anthology (reading skills with story – fact/opinion, main idea, sequencing, author’s purpose, cause and effect, etc.) Story usually introduced on a Tuesday. –Read and reread on Wednesday and Thursday. –Test usually on a Thursday. Guided Reading Groups -Chapter books- Daily Five -Book talks -Projects -Tests

Writing Skill based Writing prompts (persuasive, informative, opinion, narrative) Multi-step writing process (brainstorm to final draft and publish) Spelling Monday list is given (different groups/lists) Friday = Test Words based on sounds and patterns occurring within words

Religion Christian morality, creed, prayers –Oral quizzes, written tests and quizzes, projects Community Service – Corporal Works of Mercy, clothe the naked Retreat – October 10th

Social Studies Ancient Civilizations Tests, quizzes, projects Explorers Fair – February Field Trip

Science Tests, quizzes, experiments, projects Life Science –Cells and how Body Systems work together –Plant growth and reproduction –Energy and ecosystems Earth Science –Rock Cycle –Fossils –Changes to Earth’s surface –Earth, Moon, and Beyond Physical Science –Properties of Matter –Motion

Spiral review quizzes Tests Homework almost every night except test days and Fridays Similar to fourth grade curriculum Draw and measure angles with a protractor Numbers as high as hundred billions Exponents Decimals (tenths, hundredths, thousandths) Division with two-digit divisors Fractions –+ and – like and unlike denominators –Fraction to decimal –Decimal to fraction Math

Additional Buddies Friday Folders Letters to Mrs. Berger Class parties (Christmas, End of Year) –Volunteers/Helpers

A Successful Student * Demonstrates a good attitude * Self-monitors his/her behavior * Speaks up in class * Employs study skills * Sees teamwork between home and school

Reminders for a Successful Year: Encourage your child to: read at home every day. be organized and responsible. get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy breakfast each day. come to class with all of the materials necessary, especially homework. Respect themselves, Respect their school, and Respect others! ask for help. Most importantly, have fun!!!

Thank you for coming to Back to School Night. I look forward to working with each one of you and to a great new school year! St. Leo the Great School considers the parents the first teachers of the faith to their children. Christ is the Master Teacher; the example all of us hope to follow.