Select a School...
Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of true education. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Classroom Expectations: Be Responsible, Show Respect
School Rules- PAWS laws: Prepared, Always Responsible, Work and Play Safely
** Possible Daily Schedule:
8:15-10:10 Language Arts
10:10-10:25 Recess/Snack
10:25-12:00 Math
12:05-12:45 Lunch
12:45- 1:30 Universal Access (not Wednesdays)- flexible grouping for language arts, lesson plans designed to better meet individual needs
12:45-1:15 Art/Music (Wednesdays)- 1 day a week, alternating weeks
1:30-2:30 Specials (Science, Social Studies, PE)
**Treasures Reading Program:
1. Whole group work: word work (spelling, vocabulary), reading 2-3 selections per week to work on reading skills and strategies (comprehension), literary response
2. Small group work: reading skills based on student strengths and needs
**Reading Practice at Home:
• Reading 30 minutes each night. It will be comprised of reading related to the text read in class, online reading programs, core literature for 5th grade, or a text of the student's choosing. On some nights it may be a reading worksheet instead. There will also be some sort of corresponding record of their reading (reading log, journal, etc.), which should be an additional 10 minutes.
**Math
• Math curriculum: Review of taught/old skills each day, Introduction of new skill each day, writing to explain thinking within Math. Examples of skills taught: number sense, place value, decimals, rounding, algebra functions, geometry, measurement, statistics and probability.
• Math homework each night: finish assignment started in class, 1 problem some nights to explain in writing
**Writing
• We have “Writing” time in class every day, in addition to writing that we do in conjunction with our reading, Social Studies, and Science time.
• Grades are determined at the end of each trimester based on your child’s daily writing, writing within the content (Science, Social Studies, etc) as well as “Prompts” given each trimester. Once Prompts have been scored a copy of their writing, as well as the rubric used to determine their score will be sent home for you to see.
• Kinds of writing this year:
1) Narrative (story with introduction, rising action/tension, climax, resolution)
2) Expository (informational writing; includes a topic, sequence of events, supporting details/transitions, closing paragrah that summarizes ideas)
3) Response to Literature (explain text read and support thoughts, using examples/evidence from the text),
4) Persuasive (essays and letters to persuade).
5) Every 3-6 weeks there will also be some kind of "Research or RAFT" project in conjunction with our reading, Science or Social Studies. These will always be started in class, but may need the “final draft” to be finished at home.
• We will also be doing some writing in journals, such as a Math journal where we explain the problem or our thinking in solving it.
**Specials
• Science, Social Studies- either in 6 week units of study 1day a week, or 3 week units of study 2 days a week. Some concepts taught this year in Science: Physical Science- energy, force, atoms; Life Science- animals and plants; Earth Science- weather, Earth, space. Some concepts taught in Social Studies: Native Americans, explorers, colonies, American Revolution, Constitution, and geography ofUnited States. Science may also be taught during part of our UA time.
• Library- Mondays: 10:30-11:00 am. If students do not return their books on Monday morning, they will not be able to check out a new book when we go.
• Computers- used within the classroom, as part of our small group time; Reading and Math program (Compass Odyssey) and research to use within our Research projects; Goal is Computer Lab 1 day a week for Compass Odyssey or Computer project
•Music/Art- Goal is 1 day a week, alternating weeks
• We will be having PE 2 days a week (Tuesday/Thursday). Each day we focus on a different skill or PE standard: Tuesdays- skill work, Thursday- running/walking (increase aerobic activity); possibly on Fridays also if all work is finished throughout the week.
**Classwork Expectations
Students are given a reasonable amount of time each day to do their work. Students who do not finish their work during class are asked to complete it when their other class work is done. If it is not completed after this, it will be sent home to finish, or done at recess time. If students are working to the best of their abilities, they should be able to finish all class work in the time given.
**Homework
Homework will be sent homeeach night, and will need to be returned each day. Homework each night: (1) Math, (2) book or reading paper(s), (3) other (spelling, writing, grammar, Science or Social Studies). Please keep in mind that I keep the “challenge” work for class time, and homework is something students should be able to do with little help.
If a student does not return homework the day it is due, they will complete it at recess the next day or sit at recess if they forgot it at home. Their homework will be used for part of their final grades.
Homework should take about 30-60 minutes to complete at home, and another 30 minutes of reading/reading journal. If their homework takes any longer than this, please have them stop at 1 hour of homework/30 minutes of reading and note for me that you had them stop because the "time limit" had expired. It is also important to me that they have time for sports, clubs, family time, and playing outside to be a kid!
**Communication from School
• Fridays: Students will bring home their planner page/Progress Report on Friday, which will tell you about their week. Please sign the bottom and have them return it on Monday. Also stapled to it will be work done in class, as well as any papers about events at school or in the community. Please look through their work, as there may be comments from me. If the planner is lost, please send me a note. They will get a 1 day grace period if they do not have it on Monday, but Tuesday if it is not returned, they will sit out at recess. This is considered part of your child’s homework.
• Homework Binder/Resource Binder:This is a binder that students will use both in class and at home, and as a result it is vital that it comes back to school each day! The binders will come home every night, Monday-Thursday, with their homework, as well as any resources that they may need in order to complete their homework. Corrected homework will not be returned, unless there is a problem with the assignment.
** Rewards for following rules:
**Consequences for not following rules:
For smaller infractions: Each time a student breaks a rule they may: lose a ticket, be asked to sit in the “Time Out” spot, conference with me quietly, or be asked to join Mrs. McConnell in her room for some ‘cool down’ time (Time Out Room). If they are sent out of the room it is because the other consequences were not successful in changing their behavior. If sent out, they will have a “Think About It” sheet to fill out and for you to sign. They are to return it the next day. Also, if none of these above options seems to be helping in changing the behavior, they may be asked to call home and explain the choices they are making in class, and how they are disrupting everyone’s learning with their behavior.
For bigger infractions: There are cases in which a student may be sent straight to the office, with a referral, such as fighting, threatening/endangering another student or the class.
No homework: Students will complete it at recess. No planner on Monday, 1 day grace period, no recess on Tuesday if not returned.
**Things to Know:
• School starts every day at 8:15 am. Once I pick up the class on the blacktop, if they are not with us, they are late and will need a “tardy slip” from the office.
• Wednesdays are always Early Release Days at 1:25 pm.
• Snack time/Recess 10:10-10:25; children are told to use the bathroom and wash their hands before they are to go play or eat.
•Lunch 12:05-12:45; children are told to use the bathroom and wash their hands before getting in the lunch line or eating their lunch.
•Dress Code: For girls: shoes must have straps across the back; girls shirts and dresses must have backs and straps at least 2 fingers wide, (all parts of their body from their shoulders to just above their knees should be covered). We are in school to learn and nothing should interfere with this goal!
**Morning Procedures
• Students should not be here before 7:45 am if they are eating breakfast, 8:00 if they are not eating breakfast
• Before 8 am, they all sit at the lunch tables, even if they are not eating. At 8 am, a teacher or playground supervisor will take them up to the blacktop to play.
• Students are to put their backpacks against Room 52, until they line up on the blacktop for class.
• Volunteers: sign in at the office, get volunteer sticker/badge and wait with students until school starts (must have TB test on file before volunteering)
**End of School Day
• Students must hi-5 or say good-bye to me before leaving my line
• If you live close enough, I encourage you to have your child walk home, rather than picking them up
• I will walk them out the front of the building to the flag pole/car waiting area; we arenot tocut through the school. Please keep in mind it may take us a few minutes extra to get to the front of the school once school is out.
• Mon/Tue/Thurs/Fri- 2:30 pm
• Wed- 1:25 pm
• Minimum Days- 12:40 pm
Fifth grade specific events:
1) Field Trip toCaspersPark-plant and animal hike, ecology activities
2) Physical Fitness Test- Feb/March
3) Changing Bodies/Puberty video- end of year; parents can preview video on line, parent consent form to be included
4) Don Dornan- beginning of June in Fallbrook, track and field event for Grades 4-6
**How to Reach Me:
1st choices: Note sent in with your childoremail me at dralston@fuesd.org
Please keep in mind I may not be able to respond to these immediately, if they are not an emergency. However, I will respond within 24 hours to any non-emergency communication.
2nd choice: Phone call to the classroom, (760) 731- 4372
** I will expect your child to know if they are getting home a different way than usual. In other words, if they tell me they are going home a different way than so far this year, I will assume that they are responsible enough to tell the truth and know how they are getting home. Please make sure that they know if there is a different plan for their way home before they come to school each day, as messages don't always reach us before the end of the school day!
**Help Wanted:
I appreciate any adult family member willing and able to become a more integral part of our classroom. Some immediate openings are:
1. Fall Festival: send in an item to donate for our class basket "Massage and Relaxation Basket", which will be part of the Silent Auction at the Festival on Friday, October 19
2. Parent Volunteers for the classroom- (1) Room mom- help organize parties, book order, etc. (2) Classroom volunteers- work with small group of students, help with copies (3) Pencil Sharpeners- can be done from home
3. Join the PTA- this is the way we raise money in order to go on a field trip.
4. Send in box tops and soup labels to the classroom, I am the coordinator for our school.
Parent Teacher Conferences:Conferences are scheduled the week of October 16-19 from Tuesday- Friday. I would actually like to start conferences with parents before that week, as these are intended to be “goal setting conferences.” Therefore, I will begin contacting all parents at the end of September to set up a conference time. Please make sure I have your name, email address, and phone number. Initially I will email information and questions to parents first. Then, if I don’t get a response via email, I will call. If you do not have email, please make sure to note that, so I know to send paperwork home, or call. Thank you!
