2. Undeniable and unconditional acceptance of all students.
Welcome to the School Year in 5th Grade!
Undeniable and unconditional acceptance of all students.
The Gretna Elementary School staff is committed to developing capable and lifelong learners.
The Gretna Public Schools uses the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Reading program. This program is based on the philosophy of guided reading instruction. Short whole group mini-lessons and reading of a story common to all students are combined with small group reading of leveled texts. Phonetic skill practice, comprehension strategies, and curriculum enrichment activities are emphasized in small “skill group” instruction. Quality literature books are used extensively in class and students are strongly encouraged to select these books for recreational reading enjoyment.
Fifth grade reading goals include:
Read a variety of literature
Continue vocabulary development
Story Structure
Author’s Skills
Comprehend effectively
Locate information
Organize meaning
Evaluate text
Roots, prefixes, and suffixes are the building blocks upon which all words are formed. A thorough knowledge of these elements will greatly enhance the students’ vocabulary and improve their understanding of otherwise unfamiliar words. Each week we will be studying four to eight new vocabulary words. We will be looking at word parts, definitions, synonyms, antonyms and using the words in context.
READING and VOCABULARY

3. WRITING
The fifth grade at Gretna Elementary will be using Lucy Caulkins Units of Study for writing. Units include, Writing Fiction: Big Dreams, Tall Ambitions; Breathing Life Into Essays; Poetry; and Memoir: The Art of Writing Well. Writing will be done in the form of Writer’s Workshop.
Fifth Grade English-Writing Goals include:
Organize and write paragraphs and stories using the Six Traits of Writing qualities.
Use the writing process effectively
Prewriting
First Draft
Revising
Editing
Final Draft
Investigating Modes of Writing:
Poetry
Fiction
Narrative
Memoir
Descriptive
Weekly Spelling: The spelling lists will be taken from the spelling component of our reading series. The list is sent home with the student on Friday. The posttest will be given on Friday of the next week. It is important that the students practice their words at home.
Spelling in Writing: Students are expected to use correct spelling in all their work. During the drafting stage of the writing process, students are encouraged to get their thoughts down without having to stop constantly to check spelling. Students receive direct instruction and practice in editing for spelling errors.
Fifth grade spelling goals:
• Correctly spell words at their own level
• Learn and use a variety of spelling skills and strategies
• Successfully use spelling patterns in written language
SPELLING

4. TOPIC COVERED IN 5TH GRADE
DRAGON CLUB
Intervention and enrichment activities that fits each student as a learner
Students will work in various 5th grade classrooms
20 minutes of Reading
20 minutes of Math
The fifth grade Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Math enVision 2.0 Program focuses on helping students make sense of mathematics in meaningful ways. Number sense is the driving force of the program. Number sense includes estimation, mental math, and much more. Students who develop strong number sense become more proficient with computation and more powerful as problem solvers.
Problem-solving strategies are analyzed in specific lessons, as well as thoroughly developed and practiced throughout. Students become proficient problem solvers as they learn to apply their reading skills and the eight math practices.
TOPIC COVERED IN 5TH GRADE
• NUMBERS & COMPUTATION
• Place value of whole numbers and decimals
• Add & subtract whole numbers, decimals to hundredths, & fractions
• Multiply & divide multi-digit numbers, decimals, & fractions
• Use models & multiple strategies to divide whole numbers & decimals
• Use equivalent fractions to add and subtract fractions
• MEASUREMENT & DATA
• Volume
• Convert measurements
• Represent & interpret data
• OPERATIONS & ALGEBRA
• Algebra:
• Write & interpret numerical expressions
• Analyze patterns & relationships
• GEOMETRY
• Graph points on coordinate plane
• Classify 2D figures based on their properties
MATH PRACTICES
Make sense of problems & persevere in solving them
Reason abstractly and quantitatively
Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
Model with mathematics
Use appropriate tools strategically.
Attend to precision
Look for and make use of structure
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
HOMEWORK
Daily - most will be done in class
Topic Tests - review will be assigned the day before
MATH

5. SOCIAL STUDIES SCIENCE
American history is a key theme in this curriculum area. The curriculum is built around goals in the areas of history, geography, economics, culture and civics.
Fifth Grade Social Studies covers the following topics:
The Ancient Americans
European Explorers Come to the Americas
Settlement of the Thirteen Colonies
American Revolutionary War
Constitution of the United States
Development of the United States: 1776–1800
Civil War
Foss Science Curriculum provides students with many opportunities to construct their own knowledge of science. Students record their observations and conclusions as they work through the activities, investigate further extensions, and work on unit project links.
Fifth Grade Science covers the following topics:
Earth and Sun
Mixture & Solutions
Living Systems
The Sun
Separating Mixtures
Earth Systems - energy transfers from sun to animals
Planetary System
Developing Models
Earth’s Atmosphere
Concentration
Nutrient Systems
Heating Earth
Saturation
Transport Systems
Local Weather
Chemical Reactions
Sensory Systems
Water Planet
Tests:
There are 3 – 4 tests per unit in each topic
Study guides will be sent home for students to start filling out about a week before the test.
Students should study at home
We will review the day before.
SCIENCE

6. 1:35-2:10 SS/Science 2:15-2:50 Writing
PARENT COMMUNICATION
The best way to get in touch with us is through . Weekly notes will be sent to you through about what’s going on through the week and any other important information.
PLANNERS
Students are expected to get their planners signed daily.
This is a way to communicate between home and school regarding daily work.
MESSAGE TO STUDENTS:
Please the office or call. They will make sure your child gets the information they need.
7:50-9:00 Math
9:00-9:45 Specials
9:45-11:00 Reading
11:00-11:45 Dragon Club 11:45-12:05 Language Arts :05-12:30 Lunch :30-12:50 RECESS
12:50-1:35 SS/Science
1:35-2:10 SS/Science 2:15-2:50 Writing
Technology:
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday every 3 weeks
Guidance:
1st Semester: Every other week
2nd Semester: Once a month
DAILY SCHEDULE