Classroom Management
Classroom Rules:
- RESPECT OTHERS
- FOLLOW DIRECTIONS
- RAISE YOUR HAND TO SPEAK OR LEAVE YOUR SEAT
- KEEP YOUR HANDS, FEET, AND OBJECTS TO YOURSELF
Consequences
Students have sets of four cards at their tables. Each card is labeled in coherence with the discipline action students will receive if they misbehave. The cards are labeled as follows:
- Warning (1st offense)
- No Recess (2nd offense)
- Contact Parents (3rd offense)
- After School Detention (4th offense)
Each day a student does not loose a card, he or she will receive a sticker on his or her chart, and $100 for that child’s checkbook.
Money can also be subtracted from a child’s checkbook for not following classroom rules.
Rewards
Classroom rewards consist of Fun Fridays. Once all students have filled their sticker chart, the entire class will get to have a Fun Friday. A typical Fun Friday might consist of a special treat, extra recess, a G-rated movie, game time, or a read in, etc…
Students can also receive individual rewards. Each child has been given a checkbook. Students can earn money in their checkbooks by following the rules, turning homework in on time, and helping others. Once a month we will have an auction where students can bid on prizes using the money in their checkbooks.
Snack
Students may choose to bring a healthy mid-morning snack each day such as, fruit, crackers, cheese sticks, breakfast bar, etc… I will not be providing snack for any students. If you would like your child to have snack, please send it with him or her in the morning.
Homework Policy
Students in fifth grade are given assignments on a daily basis in most subject areas. The children are given time at the end of each lesson and at the end of the day to work on their assignments. There will be times when your students come home without any homework and, other days, they will come home with an ample amount of homework. Students are expected to be responsible for their own work.
Grades on assignments will be lowered 10% if homework is handed in late or incomplete. When a student hands in late work, a form will be sent home for the parents or guardians to sign. Students will be expected to stay inside during recess to complete their work.
All students have a daily planner that they should fill out each day. In the evening, it is the responsibility of the student to have an adult in his or her household sign the notebook. Students with no late work for an entire quarter will be able to $25,000 in their checkbooks.
Subjects and Major Topics Covered This Year
Math:
Number/operations
Multiplication/division
Fractions/mixed numbers
Geometry
Measurement (metric and standard)
Probability
Ratio/percent
Language Arts:
Parts of speech
Writing narrative, persuasive, descriptive, and expository papers
Poetry
Good Traits of Writing
Spelling:
Fifth grade level spelling words
Practice test every Monday
Test every Friday
Social Studies:
History of the United States from Civil War to Present
Projects include:
Underground Railroad Quilts
Inventors project
Roaring 20’s culture project
WWII project
Science:
Space history/rockets
World in Motion
Star Walk
Planets of the solar system
The study of human body systems
Ecology
Reading:
Reading class will be based on novel units, the basal reading series, and a variety of nonfiction articles and books. The students will be preparing for the ISAT tests by focusing on reading comprehension strategies, writing about what they read, and by following the Language Arts/Reading IL state standards.
Some of the novels they will be reading may include:
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The BFG
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nihm
The Black Stallion
A Long Way from Chicago
Indian Captive
Hero Dogs
They will also have literature circles this year. During this time the students will be doing an author study about Roald Dahl.
This year students will also be participating in the Rebecca Caudill Young Reader’s Book Award Program. Each student will be required to read at least 2 Rebecca Caudill books. During the month of February, the students will vote on the book they believe should win the Rebecca Caudill award. In the late spring, the class will find out if their chosen novel won the award.
Students will be required to read at least 1-2 books a month. One book will be read in order to create an alternative book report. Students will read a different reading genre each month. Students will also be required to take one accelerated reading test a month. Accelerated Reader books must be grade-level appropriate.
Field Trips
Star Walk at the Planetarium
Springfield – Abraham Lincoln sites
Challenger Learing Center
The Hult Center
Once again, I am so happy to have your children in my class this year. I look forward to getting to know all of you and working with your kids this year!
Thank you,
Mrs. Kuethe
