Mrs. Lawrence-5th Grade

Welcome to the 5th Grade!  I believe in inspiring each and every student to do the very best he/she can do.  There is no such thing as “I don’t know”, or “I can’t do that” in my classroom.  Together we will conquer many new topics within the 5th grade curriculum.

Curriculum Highlights
Math-First and foremost, students must know their multiplication facts in order to be successful with the 5th grade math curriculum.  If you know your child does not know his/her multiplication facts, please work with your child on a daily basis reviewing these facts.  I will also give students extra help during the lunch recess.

Other Math Highlights:  Problem Solving, Long Division, Fractions, Algebra, & Geometry.

Reading-Let’s read, read, read, and read some more.  We will be reading and analyzing everything we can get our hands on in our Reading, Science and Social Studies textbooks.  I would like to challenge all parents to show their children how important it is to read by modeling the reading process.  Pick one night a week and shut the TV off so everybody in the household can enjoy a good book.  A good way to get reluctant readers to read could involve investing in a kindle, comparing and contrasting a book to its movie, going to the public library together to check out a book, reading a book together and discussing each chapter, or starting a book club with other students.

Language Arts-The parts of speech will be highlighted with spelling rules, the 6 Traits of Writing and many other topics.

Science-The topics we will be studying include:  animal and plant cells, planets and space exploration, the three states of matter, and the rock cycle.  The Science Fair will take place during the third or fourth quarter

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Social Studies-We will be learning about the early explorers, American Indians, colonialism, the Revolutionary War, the three branches of the government, and the 50 states.

Grading
100 – 90 = A
89 – 80  =  B
79 – 70  =  C
69 – 60  =  D
59 and below = F

Homework Expectations
Students will have approximately 30 – 50 minutes of homework per night.  I require all students to read at least 20 minutes a night.  They will also have about 20 – 25 minutes of math every night, Monday – Friday.  Vocabulary and spelling work will take up the rest of the homework time.  Please help your child find a quiet place to do his/her homework.

Discipline
Our school is using a program called Love and Logic for discipline.  It involves creating an atmosphere that allows students to learn how to be respectful, responsible, and make good decisions.

Classroom Birthday Parties
We will have one main birthday party event per month.  The last Friday of each month is the day students may bring treats.  For example, if there are three students with a birthday in September, then all three students may bring treats to share with the class on the last Friday of that month.

Parent Helpers
I would enjoy having parent helpers in the following areas:  copying worksheets, putting up or taking down bulletin boards, preparing the monthly 5th grade newspaper, flashcard work with students, classroom parties, or preparing critical thinking stations.  Please let me know in advance when you are coming to help out in the classroom so I can have things ready for you.  This would be greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions or concerns you may contact me at 834-2775.  I am also in my classroom until 5:00 if you would like to stop by to discuss any issues.