WELCOME TO FIFTH GRADE WITH

MRS. LANTZ!

WEDNESDAY

September 9, 2015

TEACHING APPROACHThere are a variety of learning styles and learning needs in every classroom. In light of this fact, my teaching approach strives to provide numerous means of access to the curriculum at hand. Primarily, I include a significant amount of hands-on learning experiences for the children in my classroom. Students may comprehend material by simply reading about it; however, they truly learn and reflect on that learning when they themselves play an active role in the process. The research included below provides support to this manner of instruction. Additionally, I believe that both structure and routine are beneficial to children’s learning. When we have knowledge of what is expected of us at what time, we are that much closer to fulfilling those expectations. Finally, I hold all children in my classroom to high expectations, believing that this allows them to reach their full potential.

 

How Much We Retain

Lecture – 5%

Reading – 10 %

Audio-Visual – 20%

Demonstration – 30 %

Discussion – 50%

Active Practice – 75%

Teaching Others/ Putting to Immediate Use – 90%

EXTRAS

Notes to School

Please be sure to send in a note everyday when there is a change in your child’s daily routine. This policy is for the safety and security of your child. Permanent notes are kept on file, so please inform us of any changes.

 

Birthday Celebrations

We will celebrate birthdays as they occur in 5L. Please be aware that all celebrations will be food-free. For those children with summer birthdays, we work to make their ½ birthday just as special as the real day! 

Book Orders

Book order forms will be sent home regularly (about once a month). Please make all payments in check form directly to Scholastic or Arrow Books rather than cash. Using the online ordering is an excellent way to make purchases with credit or debit cards.

DAILY ROUTINE• Our class schedule can be found on the website at any time. Please

keep this schedule in mind when arranging doctor and dentist visits.• The Specialist Schedule and Break Schedule are as follows:

Morning Recess: Daily 10:00 – 10:10 (working snack following recess in the classroom)

Lunch Recess: Daily 12:00 – 12:20

Lunch: Daily 12:20 – 12:40

Gym: Wednesday & Friday 10:30 – 11:00

Library: Tuesday 10:30 – 11:15

Health & Wellness: Thursday 2:30 – 3:00

Music: Thursday 10:30 – 11:15

Art: Monday 10:30 – 11:15

Special Note: Please do not send your child with any snack foods containing nuts.

OTHER FAMILIAR FACES• During the day, your child may work with other staff within the

building.

• In our class, your child may also see or work with:

– Mrs. Hart (classroom instructional assistant)– Miss Osowski (Miss O.) (special education teacher)– Mrs. Ferrenetti (special education teacher)– Ms. Niciewsky (Ms. N.) (special education teacher)– Mrs. Quinn (special education teacher)– Miss Purcurot (behavioral specialist)– Mrs. Lane (behavioral teacher)– Mr. Hogan (school psychologist)– Mrs. Cheever (school nurse)

HOMEWORK• Homework counts as a portion of the overall grade in each subject and is broken out on the

report card for each subject.• Students with missing assignments will be expected to complete the assignment by the

next day. In the event the assignment is still not done, students will be asked to complete the assignment at school during the next available free time.

• All assignments are posted daily within the classroom and reviewed as a class and added to the Agenda Books at the beginning of each day.

• All students have an Agenda Book and a Homework Folder that travels with them to and from school that will contain the homework and any materials needed to complete the assignment.

• According to the Topsfield School Committee, homework for 5 th grade should be approximately 40 minutes each night, plus an additional 20 minutes for independent reading.

• Projects and long-term assignments may be incorporated as regular homework assignments and may require additional time, perhaps time spent over the weekend; however, this may only occur once or twice during the school year.

• Homework is always listed online and may be checked at any time by parents and students. Any spelling lists and math worksheets will be available to download as often as possible.

• All work missed due to absences must be made up in a timely manner (two days for each missed day of school). Special exceptions may be made with the teacher under extenuating circumstances.

• Work missed due to vacations will be made up upon the student’s return to school. Because of the changing needs of the class, work cannot be provided before the child goes away.

HOMEWORK• Please provide a consistent place and time for your child to complete the tasks. • With the tremendous variety of skills present in any classroom, it is difficult to issue

one assignment that each child will complete in a given amount of time. Please allow your child to stop after 15 HONEST minutes for each assigned subject. Simply sign the paper to indicate your decision. Jot down any specific concerns your child might have had so we can assist him/her in the morning. You have our permission to amend or shorten any homework that we assign. An example of a modification might include having your child print rather than use cursive, or doing just the even numbered examples. Homework may be done on the computer.

• Please encourage your child to check over their homework before it is considered complete. Circle their errors only after an initial self-check. Ask if they have met an established criteria - e.g. Are there topic sentences? Have they answered both questions?

• Your assistance may be needed before they begin. Most children are comfortable verbally. They may need to talk out their answers or stories before they can sit down with a pencil and paper.

• Encourage your child to be reflective, yet to ask for help when needed. Encourage your child to examine pictures for information. When reading non-fiction, an entirely new approach is necessary; specifically, stopping and thinking after each paragraph.

• Fifth grade means synthesis, often for the first time in your child's life. Skills are not for isolated mastery. They are tools to unlock an independence and a profound joy for the learning process.

THE STANDARDS-BASED REPORT CARD

Report cards have been created to align with the Common Core State Standards and better reflect the changing curricula of the Tri-Town School Union elementary schools. The 2012-2013 school year served as a pilot year for the new report cards and there have been several opportunities throughout the year for families to provide feedback. The newest version of the report card is available for you to view on the website at your convenience.

CHALLENGE & ENRICHMENT WORK

• History Mystery• iXL• Problem of the Week (POW)• Math Grids and Language Arts Grids for Independent Practice of Current Skills• Genre Study Projects• As growth and independence in learning progresses, many children are eager to

complete “challenge work” in the fifth grade. In light of this fact, 5L does have a challenge system in place. During the beginning weeks of school, I will introduce these systems (and their corresponding rewards) to the children. Challenge work is entirely voluntary. The children are to complete the challenges independently during free time at home or in the classroom.

• Extra credit opportunities will be posted throughout the year for different subject areas. These projects are completely voluntary and should only be attempted if the daily expectations are being met.

• Another opportunity for a challenge is through our Math Olympiad program. Ms. Steinberg, Proctor’s math specialist, works during the fifth grade lunch time once a week to prepare the students for the Olympiad contests that are held at several points throughout the year. Please visit Ms. Steinberg’s link on the Proctor website for more information.

Using the Website• Go to www.topsfieldschools.org and click on “Staff” to

reach the list of fifth grade teacher websites• Choose “Teacher Pages”• Choose “Mrs. Lantz” in the pull-down menu• Use the “Click Here” to go directly to the web page• It may be helpful to bookmark the page for quick access• Sign up for NewsFlash on the website to receive

constant e-mails and reminders• Sign and return a blog picture permission slip

to allow photos of your child to be posted

STAYING ORGANIZEDWe do our best to keep your child organized at school. These are some suggestions to help your child stay organized at home as well.

Provide a quiet space with no distractions for your child to work on homework and projects

Schedule a consistent time to complete homework each day to help your child establish a routine

Clean out and check backpacks daily Check the agenda and online for assignments Designate a place for materials such as supplies and books needed

for school Replenish supplies for school and home regularly to avoid last

minute trips to the store

CLASS INCENTIVES

• Lantz’s Liquidation Center• Classroom Rewards Chart• Soaring with Reading• iXL

PARCC ScheduleALL ELA AND MATH SESSIONS WILL TAKE PLACE

DURING ONE TESTING SESSION IN MAY THIS YEAR!

Students in fifth grade must also participate in MCAS Science which will also take place in May.

** Attendance on these dates is imperative**

MATH

Math in Focus“Singapore math” is the term used to refer to the mathematics curriculum used in Singapore. For over 15 years, Singapore has consistently scored at the top of international mathematics comparison studies. Its unique approach to teaching math — which focuses on problem solving, deep understanding, and model drawing — has helped Singapore students excel. Math in Focus® is the U.S. edition of Singapore’s most widely used program. It teaches the same content as traditional mathematics programs — just in a way that emphasizes understanding and flexible thinking. Math in Focus teaches children both how and why math works. This deep understanding means that they will be better able to use math in real-life situations.

More Math in FocusKey Features of Math in Focus

• A focused and coherent syllabus: Math in Focus introduces fewer topics in each grade, but teaches them to greater depth. Topics are taught to mastery, so they build from year to year across grade levels without repetition.

• A visual and balanced approach: Math in Focus is highly visual, following a concrete-to-pictorial-to-abstract progression.

• A focus on number and operations: Math in Focus is sequenced in a way that ensures students develop and maintain strong number sense. Students spend the majority of the first half of the year studying number. This provides the foundation necessary to move on to more complex and abstract thinking.

• An emphasis on problem solving using model-drawing: Math in Focus utilizes model-drawing strategies that help students solve both routine and non-routine problems.

• A recognition of the importance of attitudes and metacognition: The Singapore Ministry of Education's mathematics framework emphasizes the importance of attitude and the ability to self-monitor while problem solving to achieve success in math. Math in Focus provides students with the tools they need to break down complex concepts and problems, which in turn develops positive attitudes.

How Can I Help with Math?Please encourage your child to work through EVERY problem and try his or her best. One way you can help your child learn mathematics is by helping him or her to become an independent learner. This can best be done by asking questions and having the child explain solution processes and what (s)he does or does not understand about the problem. The following questions might help you to help your child.

MATH HELPMs. Steinberg, our Math Specialist, provides opportunities for extra help and enrichment with grade-level skills and concepts. This year’s schedule for fifth graders is as follows:

EXTRA HELPMrs. Lantz will hold her own extra help for math in the morning before tests. There will also be Homework Club in Mrs. Lantz’s room this year and students are invited to stay for extra help with math and other homework.

MATH OLYMPIADThis year Math Olympiad will be held IN THE MORNING 8:00 – 8:45 AM on three different days (Monday, Tuesday, and Friday). Students are invited to come flex their muscles with math! The same material will be covered for the three days, so attendance at every session is not required. Students can arrange to come around other morning activities.

LANGUAGE ARTS

WRITERS’ WORKSHOP 6 +1 Traits of Writing (Ideas, Organization, Word Choice,

Voice, Conventions, Sentence Fluency, and Publishing) Spelling and Word Study using Classical Roots Free-Write Journals Timely Topics (informational writing with research) Students will study sentence and paragraph structure,

punctuation and capitalization, parts of speech and vocabulary using a variety of methods.

Children will be exposed to different genres of writing including essays, narratives, poetry, plays, short stories, and report writing, to name a few.

WRITERS’ WORKSHOP• Write 5 – 10 longer composition pieces throughout the year• Vary in length and scope, across all areas of the curriculum• Both fiction and non-fiction pieces assigned• Unit on poetry and create a poetry book and report• Other projects include letters, reports, brochures, stories,

sketches, etc.• Emphasize specific skills using the 6+1 Traits Writing Model• Complete written guidelines kept in Writers’ Workshop folders

and notebooks for reference• Most writing will be completed in school, although any

unfinished work may be sent home

READER’S WORKSHOP• Guided Reading• Independent Reading• Weekly Reading Logs• Whole Class Reading & Literature Circles• Journals• Oral Presentations• Author Study• QAR (Question and Answer Relationships)

Fifth grade uses a variety of materials such as trade books, short stories, poetry, and skill-building kits. Reading groups are always flexible. In addition to the class work, students are also responsible for occasional book reports beyond the traditional report, and are encouraged to read for pleasure on a daily basis.

SPELLING & WORD STUDY• Phonemic and language development program using prefixes and

suffixes with Greek and Latin roots as a foundation for understanding

• Students will also be given five additional challenge words that are chosen for them based on individual needs

• Students will be tested on the spelling and understanding (use in context) of the Key Words and Familiar Words every other week

• Oral and written vocabulary will expand, with the expectation that newly learned words will be incorporated into their writing where appropriate

• 15+ lessons to be completed by the end of the school year• Spelling homework will be assigned to review and understand the

material presented each week• Students will be asked to complete an assignment addressing the

spelling or meanings of the words each night (Monday – Thursday). These assignments are outlined on the website.

SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES

TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIMEAs outlined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), fifth grade students study United States history, geography, economics, and government from Early Exploration through the Westward Movement.

Students study:

• the major pre-Columbian civilizations in the New World• the15th and 16th century European explorations around the world, in the

western hemisphere, and in North America in particular the earliest settlements in North America

• the political, economic, and social development of the English colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries.

• the early development of democratic institutions and ideas, including the ideas and events that led to the independence of the original thirteen colonies and the formation of a national government under the U.S. Constitution.

The purpose of the grade 5 curriculum is to give students their firstconcentrated study of the formative years of U.S. history.

RESEARCH PROJECTSAssigned once or twice during the school year

Either group or individual projects that will vary in length

Gives students opportunities to express understanding and creatively interpret information covered in class

Will require research skills

Students will be given clear outlines of expectations with segmented due dates and grading rubric

Most work will be completed in school, although some work may need to be done at home

Summing Up Science

“Lifelong learners are able to use methods of inquiry to participate in scientific investigations and technological problem-solving.”

We will work toward developing scientific attitudes such as curiosity, respect for evidence, flexibility, and sensitivity to living things, as students develop scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Students will learn to apply the scientific method and use the Engineering Design Process to solve problems and apply critical thinking skills.

All activities encourage hands-on inquiry-based learning. Therefore, it is imperative that students are present for all investigations.

SCIENCE COURSE OUTLINE• Technology and Engineering (carried throughout)• Use of the Scientific Method• Plate Tectonics, Landforms, and Erosion• Heredity• Astronomy, Phases of the Moon, the Planets• Weather and the Water Cycle• Color and Light

Materials:

Teacher will employ various strategies, texts, and materials throughout the year to develop scientific thinking, as well as to introduce and support inquiry-based learning.

Projects:

Assigned the same as projects done in social studies.

HEALTH & WELLNESS• Students will be involved in monthly school-wide assemblies in addition to weekly meetings

organized by the principal which will address the importance of safety, respect, and responsibility of all students.

• Fifth grade students are involved with the DASH Program where students will learn about physical disabilities. A sign-up sheet for parent volunteers is available this evening.

• The health curriculum includes lessons in self-esteem, refusal skills, pro-social skills and appropriate assertiveness.

• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a school-wide program designed to prevent or reduce bullying throughout the school setting. The multi-component approach involves individuals, classrooms, entire schools, as well as parents and communities, to successfully address bullying in schools.

• Statistics show how successful implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program can reduce school bullying. Outcomes have included: – Fifty percent or more reductions in student reports of being bullied and bullying others. Peer

and teacher ratings of bullying problems have yielded similar results.– Significant reductions in student reports of general antisocial behavior such as: school

bullying, vandalism, school violence, fighting, theft, and truancy.– Significant improvements in the classroom social climate as reflected in students' reports of

improved order and discipline, more positive social relationships, and more positive attitudes toward schoolwork and school.

– Greater support for students who are bullied, and stronger, more effective interventions for students who bully.

C.L.I.C. LAB• Collaborating with grade level teams, the CLIC teacher designs creative

extension units based on what is being taught that month in the classrooms. Classes come to the CLIC classroom to work on integration projects. CLIC gives students immediate opportunities to actively learn curriculum in new and exciting ways.

• We will have time built into our schedule to work in the CLIC Lab on a project-by-project basis. Because of my firm belief in hands-on learning, we make it part of our routine. I work closely with Mrs. LaRussa to plan meaningful lessons that invite students to explore, investigate, and invent during our units of study throughout the year.

• CLIC may also have a before-school session as it has in the past. Traditionally, all students may participate Monday – Friday 8:00 – 8:40 each morning. You must have a permission slip to visit the Lab by signing up for the various clubs that are offered throughout the year. There is NO open CLIC time in the morning this year!

• For more information visit www.clicprogram.org

Questions?• I am always available to answer any questions or

address any concerns that you may have throughout the year.

• I may be reached by telephone at the school, or preferably by e-mail.

• llantz@topsfieldps.org

BEFORE YOU GO…• Please sign up for the Class Photographer at the

side table, if you are interested.

• Please consider volunteering for the DASH program to be offered to fifth graders at the end of October. Sign up on the side table.

• Please complete BOTH forms that are on your child’s table. We need the most current information on both sheets EVEN IF YOU HAVE FILLED THEM OUT IN THE PAST.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IN YOUR

CHILD’S EDUCATION!

HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND DRIVE SAFELY!