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Fifth Grade Notes
from Mrs. Swope
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Welcome!
- Thanks for tissues and baby wipes (can send whenever)
- Monthly newsletters sent home beginning of the month
- Join us for lunch - need to order your lunch in advance
- Thanks to all the parent volunteers - you are amazing!
Classroom
Behavioral Expectations/Consequences
- Popcorn kernels - class reward
- Tickets - earn for various reasons, complete a check, turn in
for special privileges
- Weekly awards for special recognition
- Name written on board if not follow rules
Homework
Assignments
- Written on homework board - reviewed at end of the day and
beginning of next day
- Homework buddies if absent
- Late work marked late in grade book - possibly effects grade
- One half recess owed per assignment, works on it during recess
- if not finished by end of recess, note is sent home to be signed
and returned with the work the next day
- If becomes an everyday issue, set up assignment book program -
possibly a loss of special privileges also begins (assemblies,
parties, movies, extra recess, games, tickets, etc.)
Extra Credit
Work Options
- Reading projects - varies with unit
- Math - do extra problems on page or do enrichment page if
offered
- weekly Brain Teasers offered
- Science - varies with unit, share unit-related news or
magazine articles
Weekly
Binders and Envelopes
- Binder contains graded work - envelope contains work that may
stay at home
- Coupon in front to be signed and returned with child on Monday
- Empty envelope contents weekly, binder contents emptied at end
of marking period
Tests/Quizzes
- 3 days notice for test - 2 days for quiz
- Given adequate time to complete - help given if needed
- Directions read with class and test-taking strategies offered
before test is started
- Tips to test-taking/how to study taught throughout the year
- Usually teacher-made and contain a variety of questions
- Strict "No Talking" rule during quizzes and tests
- Talking during test and either person has their test, anyone
with their test is given a "0%"
- Talking after hand test in, both lose a recess
- Given back as soon as possible, reviewed with students, sent
home to be signed and returned if it is a test (spelling is the
exception)
- If performs poorly - receive extra help and/or practice
Birthdays
- Celebrate half birthdays for summer birthday students
- Sing and pull ears, line up first all day, no morning
assignment coupon
- Bring treat if wish - please no candy and have precut for us
First Grade
Buddies - once a cycle
Computers -
once a cycle with the lap tops
- Review games, class projects, publishing student stories,
e-mail, internet usage, Power Point
Social
Studies - taught by Miss Herr
Science
- Labs and hands-on activities when appropriate
- Take outlined notes on class discussions - use to study for
assessments
- Various videos for more realistic view of some topics
- Topics include Ecology, Climate, Drugs and Alcohol, Energy,
Voyage of the Mimi, and the Skeletal System
Math
- Begin class with page from daily review book and 4 wordles
- Homework given regularly (odds only, etc.)
- Variety of review games
- Enrichment work during certain lessons
- Calculators passed out - responsible for them (approximate $13
fee to replace if broken)
Weekly
Spelling Units
- Pretest on Mondays - students correct
- Homework - 5 times each Monday night
- Test on Thursday
- Games on Wednesdays
Reading
- Projects/activities with most stories
- Read aloud to students every Tuesday-Friday mornings
- Use anthology units as well as whole group novel units (such
as Old Yeller , Island of the Blue Dolphins, Kid in the Red
Jacket)
- Time given for self-selected reading (SSR) - should read each
night at home - should read at least 700 pages per marking period
- Will hold conference on some of the books they finish, but not
all
- Can drop one book per marking period
English/Writing
- Will follow steps of the writing process (revision is the
hardest, please help encourage this step)
- Mini-lessons on writing techniques
- Chapters from English book (paragraph skills and using quotes
seem to be hardest)
- Daily edit in the morning for practice
- Writing folder with explanation of steps, editing checklists,
revising checklists, tips for characterization, better word
choices, how to hand in a story sheet