September 2009

Dear Parents,

            The fifth grade year is a challenging and productive learning year for your child.  In order for the students to have the best experience, the school, the teacher, the parents and children must work together.  This letter is to inform you of the program for the upcoming school year.

            This year we have reading class for sixty minutes every afternoon.  We will concentrate on vocabulary building, analysis and interpretation skills, elements of literature, and critical thinking.  In literature circles, your child will read and discuss a number of award winning paperback books including our Storytown Anthology.  Reading grades will be based on class participation, test scores, and projects.

We will be using the Everyday Math series, which will focus on conceptual development and real life applications.  Normally there is math homework nightly.  Additional computation assignments will supplement the series.  Grades will be based on daily work, homework, projects, quizzes, and tests.

Mrs. Slawter will be teaching science.  The students from both classes will have science for three periods in the six-day cycle.  The units this year will include the following: Solar Energy, Landforms, and Microworlds.  In all units the students will maintain a folder with experiments and notes as any scientist would.  Grades will be based on folders, homework, tests, and projects.

Mrs. Leopold will be teaching social studies.  The students from all classes will have social studies for about sixty minutes, three times in the six-day cycle. The units we will be studying are as follows: Native Americans, Explorers, Colonization, Colonial Life, The American Revolution, and Immigration.  Grades will be based on class participation, homework, class work, tests, and quizzes, and projects.

Mrs. Leopold and Mrs. Slawter will be teaching writing and technology skills to support the fifth grade projects in math, science, and social studies.  Your student will learn about the computer and its everyday uses.  The district standard software, Microsoft Office 2003, will be utilized for writing, desktop publishing, and presentations. 

In Spelling we will use our Storytown spelling words which includes word patterns and content specific words.  We will be focusing on sentence writing and editing skills using our spelling words.  Grades are based on homework, tests, and spelling in other subject areas.

English / Writing will include work in writer’s workshop.  The students will have many opportunities to write daily utilizing the writing process.  We will focus on personal narratives, writing in the content areas, and utilize the five-paragraph essay format.  Grades will be based on published pieces, class participation, journal writing, and tests.

Both of us are very excited to be working with your child this year.  We encourage the students to tell you what we are studying so that you will know what he/she did at school that day.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact Mrs. Slawter or Mrs. Leopold either by a note, a telephone call, or e-mail (aleopold@palisadessd.org, lslawter@palisadessd.org).