Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Welcome to 5th Grade Literacy 2013-2014

Thank you to the parents who attended Open House last night.  If you were unable to attend, no worries!  I've attached the information we discussed.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  This is going to be a great year!!!

Scholastic Book Club orders were sent home earlier this week.  Orders are due September 3rd.  You may order online using a debit or credit card, or you may order by sending cash or check to school.  If you would like to order online, the class code is GLWM2.  The web address is: scholastic.com/readingclub
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5th Grade Literacy


 Carl Stuart Middle School

Welcome to a new school year at Carl Stuart!

The 5th grade literacy teachers are excited about the great reading and writing your child will do in our classes!   This year, we will continue to implement Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts.

 

Curriculum Overview

UNIT TITLE
MAJOR TEXTS
THEME
1
 
 
CHALLENGES AND CHOICES
 
 
 

 
Students will analyze the challenges that literary characters face and the choices they make.
Writing Focus: Narrative
2
 
INVENTIVE THINKING
 
 
 
 

 
Students will explore inventive thinking in both non-fiction and fiction, determining how inventive thinking changes our world or creates a new world.
Writing Focus: Expository
3
 
COMING OF AGE

 
 
 
 
 
 
Students will study both informational and fictional books featuring the Great Depression and this era’s effect on children.
Writing Focus: Opinion Writing
4
 
AMERICA IN CONFLICT
 
 
 
 
 

 
Students will consider the causes of conflict and how literary characters and real people resolve conflict in positive and negative ways. Fiction and informational text in this unit are centered on the Civil War.
Writing Focus: Review of all purposes

 

Module Test Dates

Date
Type of Test
Tuesday, October 29
Reading
Wednesday, October 30
Writing
Tuesday, January 14
Reading
Wednesday, January 15
Writing
Tuesday, February 25
Reading
Wednesday, February 26
Writing

Grades

Your child will receive one combined grade for both reading and language arts. It will appear under “language arts” on the report card. Grades may be taken on any of the following:

·         homework completion

·         participation in activities in class, including discussions, presentations, and listening

·         various assignments with grades based on a rubric or checklist

·         quizzes and tests from notes and activities in class

·         module tests

·         work done throughout the writing process and on completed stories and essays - These grades may be based on rubrics specific for a particular assignment or on the Conway School District writing rubrics for grade 5.  The great majority of writing will be done in class.

·         evidence of independent reading – reading logs and book projects

YOUR CHILD SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A BOOK TO READ INDEPENDENTLY!
Your child has access to thousands of books in the CSMS media center and in the classroom libraries.
THERE IS HOMEWORK IN READING EVERY NIGHT: READ!
 
 


 

 

 

GRADING SCALE
A: 90% or higher
B : 80 – 89%
C: 70 – 79%
D: 60 – 69%
F: 59% or lower

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Open and frequent communication between the parent and the teacher

 is vital to a child’s success in school.

Please contact us anytime you have questions or concerns.

 

Elizabeth Harness harnesse@conwayschools.net





CSMS phone- 501-329-2782