Dear parents/guardians,
I am happy to be teaching your child in fifth grade. I will be teaching math to some students (others will have Mrs. Jost), social studies, reading, and vocabulary/spelling. Mrs. Wilkinson will be teaching religion, English, and science. We hope to make this a wonderful year for your child. Please let us know if any problems develop so that we can assist your child.
In reading class the students will be given vocabulary sheets with definitions to complete. This will require them to look up the word, but they will need only to write one word for each definition. If your child has difficulty please have them either make flash cards or you can have them write the vocabulary words and then select the correct word when you read the definition.Students will have a weekly test (10 questions only) on the story. Vocabulary, story content, and making inferences is included on each test. Grades are weighted: test 50%, assignments 35%, and AR results 15%. Please monitor your child's progress in AR. They must read throughout the quarter to reach their goal.
In social studies there is a significant amount of vocabulary to learn. Over the summer I entered all the vocabulary for each social studies unit on a website. I "chunked" the words to create lists of 10-15 words. Your child will receive the vocabulary printed to study for each chapter. In addition, your child may go to a website(quizlet) to print flash cards or to take quizzes. You may access this website by clicking on my "Links" page and selecting the lesson to study. Your child will then take a quiz on these words at school. Your child's social studies grade is also weighted (50% tests, 30% quizzes, 20% assignments.) Special projects will count as test grades.
I am teaching two different math series. In both classes, memorization of math facts is essential. Please quiz your child daily. Both speed and accuracy are important. Your child will try to improve his/her score. My Houghton Mifflin math class will have chapter tests, math fact quizzes, midchapter quizes, and homework. Grades are weighted: 50% tests, 30% quizzes, and 20% homework. My Saxon math class will have tests every 5 lessons, math fact quizes, and homework. Grades are weighted 50% tests, 30% quizzes, and 20% homework.
In fifth grade, the students have both a speller and vocabulary book. I will teach spelling one week and vocabulary the next week In vocabulary, students are required to write the definitions in the vocabulary notebook. The students are graded on their tests.
Our specials schedule is :Monday, general music; Tuesday, liturgical music; Wednesday, computer/library; Thursday, PE; and Friday, art. The fifth and sixth grade students go to liturgy on Thursday. However, if there is an all-school liturgy, then there is no class liturgy that week.
Special Note: Please send $3 for the assignment notebook if you have not already done so. I would like to have all money by Friday, August 27th. Holy Infant totes cost $9. Most students are using them from last year.
Thank you for your support as we begin this school year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Mary Braun