Curriculum Night 2012 “A Shared Vision”

Curriculum Night is an opportunity to talk to our Caleb’s Creek families and answer questions regarding

what their child will be learning in school this year. We recognize the importance of having a shared vision with our students, parents, staff and community and

we look forward to working with you this year!

What is Curriculum What is Curriculum Night?Night?

I’m glad you

asked!

A Shared VisionDigging Deeper Into 5th Grade AIG

'A shared vision is not an idea...it is rather, a force in people's hearts...at its simplest level, a shared vision is the answer

to the question:'What do we want to create?‘

Peter Senge

Follow me as we take a

glimpse into our classroom

Take a look atOur Daily Schedule

8:45 Students arrive, write down homework, check homework

9:00 Math

9:55 Shared Reading

10:40 Writing

11:20 Read aloud and pack up

12:30 Return to 5th grade class

Compacting Curriculum

• In AIG classes, students work one year ahead of their current grade level.

• Objectives and goals are compacted to fit more material in the same amount of time. This is especially important this year, as we transition to the new national curriculum (Common Core) and state curriculum (Essential Standards).

• This involves pre-assessing materials to determine exactly what kind of instruction students need.

• Students should try their best on these non-graded assessments. If they can prove proficiency in an area, they can advance to the next level.

Reading/Language Arts Expectations

• Expands and refines vocabulary through knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, roots, derivatives, context clues to assist comprehension

• Identifies key vocabulary from the text to support comprehension• Monitors comprehension and extend vocabulary• Reads independently, daily from self-selected materials (consistent

with the student’s independent reading level) to increase fluency, build background knowledge, and vocabulary skills

• Makes inferences about fictional and non-fictional text• Integrates main idea and supporting details from multiple resources

to expand understanding of text• Organize writing and speaking tasks considering audience, purpose• Composes a draft that elaborates on major ideas and adheres to the

topic by using an appropriate organizational pattern that accomplishes the purpose of the writing task and effectively communicates its content

• Composes a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and dramas using self-selected topic and format- poetry, research reports, news articles, letters to the editor, business letters

1st Quarter Math Expectations• Volume, Place value/decimals,

Add/subtract decimals, Classifying 2-D Figures, Relate Volume to Multiplying and Addition, and Multiplying/dividing whole numbers/decimals

Take a Look at our:Daily, Weekly, Quarterly Assessments

• End-of-Quarter Testing (district) 1st and 3rd quarter ONLY this year

• Quarterly Writing prompts (district)• Math

– Tests– Homework Test grade – Daily work– Quizzes

• Writing – Concept focused writing – Writing prompt responses

• Reading– Tests reflecting class reading (all open book)– Reading Log– Daily work

Continuous Improvement• I am a very strong believer in a cycle of continuing

to improve at all times. • No matter where you start, you can get better! • This is a big reason why I ask students to

complete SIMMs on all math tests. • I expect students to ask questions and make

mistakes. They help me to be a better teacher!• Encourage your child to keep trying! Asking for

help is necessary in all walks of life, so why not start practicing now?

Rubrics and Student Choice• In order to encourage student creativity and critical thinking,

students are often given a choice in their assignments. • This differentiation can come in the form of content, product, or

process differentiation. • This allows students to take advantage of their multiple

intelligence, highlighting particular talents and interests. • Criteria is established on a rubric. Students choose which level

of proficiency they want to achieve and work accordingly. • Students are encouraged to ask questions about the depth and

complexity that is required for each task if they are unclear.

Homework Tips– Homework should be a reinforcement of material

learned in school. If it is not the topic we covered in class, call a classmate to be sure you are doing the right thing!

– Set aside time and a place for studying that is free of distractions. (Tools for learning handy: books, pencils, etc.)

– Allow students to finish the assignment before you check it. Then, mark errors and let them attempt to correct themselves.

– Study with your child (great time to bond!)– Stay in touch with your teacher!– (Parents) Create a portfolio of best pieces,

keeping only selected assignments, not all of them

Other HOT 5th grade topics

*Absences and Make-up work3 days to make up work missed

*Binder/dividers5 subject notebooks: One for

Mrs. Grubbs, one for Mr. Desmond

Keep my notebook in binder! Use dividers. No paper should

just be ‘stuck’ in the binder.

Staying Informed

• Curriculum Night• PTA• Parent/Teacher conferences (Nov. 5)• Bi-Weekly Newsletters• Wednesday folder

– Sign Parent Assist log when a date is noted on the log

• Webpage• Phone Calls/Email• Parent Assist

Questions???