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Altoona School Fifth Grade Syllabus
August
2009
Dear
Parents and Students,
 Welcome
to fifth grade at Altoona School! I look forward to many new
challenges and learning opportunities in the months ahead.
The
purpose of this syllabus is to help answer commonly asked
questions and take a brief glance at the areas we will be
studying this school year. I hope to meet you during Open
House on
The
following are areas of importance:
AGENDAS: Students
will record assignments, homework and projects daily in their
agenda. Students should bring their agendas home each day to
guide their homework and so you can review their progress.
Please check your student’s agenda nightly and ask if all
information has been recorded and completed in class and home.
Students should bring their agenda back to school each day so
new work can be included. This is an important form of
communication between school and home. Please sign your
student’s agenda each Wednesday.
HOMEWORK: Please
talk with your student and agree to a special time and place
for them to complete homework. If all assignments are
complete, it would be helpful to review math facts (addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division), read a library
book or study spelling words. Consistency is very important
in this area.
REPORT CARDS:
Fifth grade uses letter grades in all subject areas- Language
Arts, Reading, Math, Science and Social Studies. Notes and/or
phone calls concerning grades will be handled as needed. The
grading scale is as follows:
100-90 A
89-80 B
79-70 C
69-60 D
59 and below F
WEEKLY FOLDERS:
Graded papers will be sent home in the homework folder every
Wednesday. Please look for these folders and return them on
Thursday signed and dated.
DISCIPLINE:
Classes at Altoona School follow the Stoplight System:
Green-good, Yellow-warning, Red-poor behavior. In 5th
grade we emphasize 3 R’s (Rights, Respect, and
Responsibility). Positive reinforcement is used on a
consistent basis. Students are rewarded with positive
consequences for treating others with respect, recognizing the
rights of self and others, and taking responsibility for their
work, words, behavior and attitude. Negative consequences are
used to emphasize the importance of Rights, Respect and
Responsibility. Our classroom and school must be a
cooperative, safe learning community where all students strive
to do and be their best.
ACHIEVEMENT TESTING:
Fifth graders will take the FCAT in reading, math and science
in March 2010.
Subject Areas:
LANGUAGE ARTS: We
will be using the new Houghton Mifflin text, Treasures
and companion workbooks. The goal is to have students become
successful, motivated, and confident speakers and writers.
Language Arts includes writing, vocabulary, spelling, and
speaking. Students will be exploring content across the
entire curriculum. We will be reading a wide variety of
quality fiction and nonfiction literature in the form of
shorter stories and leveled readers.
READING: We will
be using the new Houghton Mifflin text, Treasures . In
earlier grades students focus on acquiring skill that
encompass “learning to read.” In 5th grade the
focus is clearly on reading to learn. Much emphasis is placed
on reading comprehension in order for students to gain
knowledge and understanding through their increased reading
skill. Students will be reading a wide variety of quality
fiction and nonfiction literature in the form of short
stories, chapter books, textbooks and leveled readers.
 MATHEMATICS:
Our textbook is a math series by Harcourt Math. Students will
be learning mathematics with direct instruction, hands-on
experiences, partner and group work to build conceptual
understanding and proficiency in a variety of skills.
Practice will require the use of problem solving skills and
strategies. It is the goal for each student to achieve
success through a balance of computational skills, conceptual
understanding, and problem solving.
SCIENCE: The
science program in fifth grade includes the sciences of Earth,
Space, Natural and Physical. Stress is placed on the various
aspects of ecosystems, natural resources, electricity, space,
energy light, and sound. The scientific method will be used
often as students use experimentation along with research,
observation, writing, and discussion. Health topics are taught
during D.A.R.E. (Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education)
SOCIAL STUDIES:
We will be using the text and supplemental materials.
Students will be learning map skills, U.S. History, America’s
Ethnic Diversity, American Government, basic economics, and
regions of the United States.
In
closing, we look
forward to a positive partnership with you this school year.
Let us continue to keep the lines of communication flowing
openly. We are always available to answer your questions and
hear your comments, concerns, and special needs of your child.
Homework Policy
Homework
will be assigned most nights Monday - Thursday. It is the
student’s responsibility to make sure all homework is listed
in the agenda. Homework is due the following day unless
specified otherwise. If for some unforeseen reason the
homework assignment cannot be completed a parent note must be
written in the agenda and, your student will be given one more
day to turn it in. Late homework will be accepted for half
credit. In case of illness, please send in a note of
explanation so the absence will be excused. Students have two
days to complete assignments and homework for each excused
absence.
Homework
is given in order to reinforce the skills taught in the
classroom. Also, each child is unique and at times the
classroom time available for an assignment may not be enough
to complete the task. In that case unfinished work becomes
homework to be completed and returned the next day.
I look
forward to working with your student and partnering together
with you to make this a happy and successful school year for
everyone.
Thank you!
Mrs.
Cynthia Pratt
cindykpratt@yahoo.com
669.3444
Altoona School Phone
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