Homework
Homework is the completion of any work that may not be completed in class. This could include assigned work at the end of a class period, make up work from being sick, missing work from a prior day, or class work that was not completed in a timely matter. Homework is designed to review concepts that have already been introduced and practiced in class. Your child should be able to do their homework independently. They should also have resources that have been created in class to refer to in a situation that they may need help. If you have questions about the homework or if homework was assigned, please do not hesitate to contact the teacher in charge of that given class or myself.
Math Homework
If your child is in my math class, they may or may not have homework on a nightly basis. My class takes a hands on approach for the visual learners. We will use interactive notebooks to help students stay organized, have step by step instructions on how to solve problems, as well as see examples. The notebooks may be taken home to help with homework, but they must be returned on a daily basis. The notebooks are reference guides for you as a parent as well. I will try to get each page of the notebook on this website under the Interactive Notebook tab.
Reading Homework
In fifth grade, our students will be doing the majority of their reading instruction through literature. Each day, the students will be reading from a chapter book as a whole class. The skills that we will be working on in class will be taught through Interactive notebooks, class discussions, and technology. The students will be working with a class in California that will also be reading the same story at the same time. There will be comprehension questions or open ended questions that go with the chapters read in class.
In addition to the literature circles, your child will have AR reading every night. It is important that you child is reading every night as part of their homework. Their monthly goals will be sent home at the beginning of the month to be met by the end of the last day of the month. Reading the appropriate book (in their ZPD range) will help them become stronger readers. Reading should also be done on the weekends. If you make this part of their bedtime routine or after-school routine, the goals will be met in no time!
In addition to the literature circles, your child will have AR reading every night. It is important that you child is reading every night as part of their homework. Their monthly goals will be sent home at the beginning of the month to be met by the end of the last day of the month. Reading the appropriate book (in their ZPD range) will help them become stronger readers. Reading should also be done on the weekends. If you make this part of their bedtime routine or after-school routine, the goals will be met in no time!
Spelling HOmework
The newest spelling words will be distributed on Mondays. These words will be discussed in class. They will be encouraged to take notes when we discuss the spelling and the meaning of each word. They will be provided with one list each week. If they misplace the list, there will be a copy in the Spelling Lists tab on this website. Usually, the spelling homework is as follows:
Monday: write each word two times each
Tuesday: Questions about the spelling words
Wednesday: unscramble the words
Thursday: Word search
Friday: no homework (Test)
From time to time, the worksheets may be sent in a different order or a different assignment will be assigned for the students. Study their words with them at home. Have them do mock spelling tests at home, randomly ask them to spell a word for you, have them cut out letters in the newspaper or magazine to make their words, or even have them type the words on their tablets or on the computer.
Monday: write each word two times each
Tuesday: Questions about the spelling words
Wednesday: unscramble the words
Thursday: Word search
Friday: no homework (Test)
From time to time, the worksheets may be sent in a different order or a different assignment will be assigned for the students. Study their words with them at home. Have them do mock spelling tests at home, randomly ask them to spell a word for you, have them cut out letters in the newspaper or magazine to make their words, or even have them type the words on their tablets or on the computer.
WRiting HOmework
Most of the writing will take place in the classroom. Occasionally, they will be asked to do a rough draft at home or to brainstorm ideas for our next writing assignment at home. Our goal is to get the students writing with more detail, less "boring" words, adding descriptions, and make the reader want to read more and question less. We will cover narrative writing (telling a story), persuasive writing, and expository writing (how-to's and explanations). We will use interactive notebooks to learn skills that they will need to make their writings stronger.
Social Studies and Science
Not every student will have the opportunity to have a science or social studies class. For those that have social studies, I will be the teacher of record. Science is taught by Miss DeVries. These class are designed to teach the curriculum, but also to teach organization skills. Taking notes and keeping them organized and in a safe place is a big task for the fifth graders. We spend a lot of time in these two subject areas working on this skill. It will be important in middle school. If homework is assigned, it will be related directly to the content learned during the lesson from that day. If you have any questions about the content or homework, do not hesitate to contact Miss DeVries or myself.
Additional items
Each child will be given a monthly book report. This book report is due the last Wednesday of the month. The requirements are sent home on the first day of each month. The book report must be completed on time and meet all the requirements on the rubric that will be handed out. Do not wait until the last day to complete the projects. The projects need to be completed on a chapter book of their choice (in their ZPD range). They must have read the book on their own (not read in class or to them) and they must have taken a test over the book and received 80% or better.
There will be times throughout the year that you child will be assigned other reports. These reports include (but are not limited to) Declamations, Dearborn projects, autobiographies, and research reports.
There will be times throughout the year that you child will be assigned other reports. These reports include (but are not limited to) Declamations, Dearborn projects, autobiographies, and research reports.