This document provides information for parents about the 5th grade curriculum at Williams Elementary School for the 2012-2013 school year. It outlines the teachers and subjects for math, science, language arts and social studies. It also details the daily schedule, communication methods, behavior policies, science and math curriculum overview and additional programs. The purpose is to inform parents about what their children will be learning over the school year.

1. Welcome Parents!
Curriculum Night
5th grade
Williams, Strange, Jennings, Hance,
Jones
2012-2013

2. And the team is…
Math and science:
Rita Derrick
Yvonne Strange (AGP)
Lisa Williams (AGP)
Jill Stauffer (math)
Language arts and social studies:
Danielle Hance (AGP)
Lorie Jennings (AGP)
Jessica Jones (AGP)
Lisa Lee
Jill Stauffer

3. Your child’s day
7:15-7:40 – Homeroom
7:50-8:40- Special Areas (They each have their own schedule)
8:45- 10:55- Morning classes
(Either math and science, or ELA and SS)
11:00- Switch to afternoon classes and begin lunch
Williams- 11:15
Strange- 11:18
Hance- 11:21
Jennings- 11:24
11:00-1:55- Afternoon classes
1:55- Switch to homeroom
2:00-2:20 – Recess

4. Communication
 Contacting a teacher
 E-mail is the preferred contact method.
 Teacher notes are still welcomed!
 You may use our individual phone numbers, but we may not get to the
message for 24 hours.
 Power School
 Please use Power School as a weekly tool to monitor your child’s
progress.
 A zero means that your child has not turned in the assignment.
 A blank space means your child was absent or a teacher has not yet
graded the assignment.
 Graded papers
 Folders will be sent home every Thursday. Please sign the chart and
return to your child’s homeroom teacher on Friday.
 Please do not place teacher correspondence in the Thursday folder.
 School newsletter and classroom news
 Check our Web pages weekly for updates and the school newsletter
 Agenda
 Please check your child’s agenda nightly for homework, reminders,
and teacher notes.

5. PBIS

6. LMES Behavior Banner

7. LMES reminders…
 Please sign in at the front reception office when
visiting (even in the mornings before school). You
will need your picture ID. Please sign out when
leaving LMES.
 You are welcome to eat with your child at lunch.
Please meet in the cafeteria at your child’s lunch
time. Please sit at a red, round table to enjoy time
with your child alone.
 District 5 does not permit fast food (Chick-fil-A,
McDonald’s, etc…) or sodas to be brought in or sent
in a lunch box. THANK YOU!

8.  Please sign in with Lobby Guard when
entering building. You will need your driver’s
license.
 Please consider volunteering for PTO. There
is a form listing opportunities for service!

9. Special Occasions
 We gladly celebrate birthdays. Students are
welcome to bring in a store-bought,
prepackaged treat to share with classmates
on or near their birthday…just let us know.
 LMES celebrates twice a year with a class
party ~ Winter Break and End of the year.
 Room mothers may contact volunteers to
send in an easy snack throughout the year.
Please fill out the volunteer form so that you
may be contacted.

10. What stays in the bookbag
 Agenda
 Expandable folder with homework folder and
papers
 Reader’s notebook binder
 SS, ELA, Writer’s, Math, Science notebooks
 Science workbook
 Math journal
 Pencil bag

11. 5th Grade Science
Curriculum Overview
2012-2013

12. Units of Study
 Mixtures and Solutions (Properties of Matter)
 Ecosystems (includes plant and animal cells)
 Landforms and Oceans
 Forces and Motion
 Process Skills are woven throughout all units
(observation, prediction, inference, etc)

13. Unit Rotation
 Inquiry based learning
 Requires use of materials that must be
rotated between the science teachers
 All students will receive instruction in all of
the units, but not at the same time

14. Grading
 Homework 10%
 Lab/Class Work/Notebook 25%
 Quizzes 30%
 Unit Tests 35%

15. Materials
 Textbookis used to supplement the inquiry
based units
 Each
student receives a consumable Science
Workbook and PACT Practice Book

16. Notebooking in Science
 Each student will be required to utilize a
science notebook for recording labs,
vocabulary, observations, writing
conclusions, etc.
 Notebooks will be assessed periodically (part
of the class work, lab, notebook category)

17. AGP Math
 5th
and 6th grade math in one academic year in
preparation for beginning pre-algebra in 6th
grade. (acceleration course)
 Students use 6th grade math journals from
Everyday Math
 Participate in Continental Math national math
competition
Faster pace (Acceleration)
Less repetition – more depth
More problem solving

18. Additional Curriculum
Resources:
 Hands-On Equations for algebraic problem solving
to give a concrete understanding of balanced
equations before moving to abstract problem
solving on paper.
 Project M3: Record Makers and Breakers: Using
algebra to analyze graphs
 South Carolina Stock Market Game: Students
compete in groups investing $100,000 in the stock
market. They analyze stock trends and make
decisions about where to invest their money.

19. Social Studies
 Wewill be studying U.S. history from Civil
War Reconstruction to current day
 We focus on multiple perspectives and cause and
effect
 History is more than facts. It is the stories behind
the events.
 Please help your child look at events critically and
from multiple viewpoints

20. English Language Arts
 Thisyear we will focus on reading and
responding to text critically
 Resources we will use:
 History DBQ (Document-based questioning)
 Jr. Great Books
 “Changes” William and Mary unit
 Michael Clay Thompson – Caesar’s English,
Grammar Town, Poetry

21. At home reading
Please help your child
read a “balanced diet”
and read in a second,
critical layer.
It is recommended
Your child read
At least 30 min.
A day, 5 days a week

22. ELA Points
 ELA operates on a points system. Points are
cumulative from the total and are weighted
within each assignment.
 For example: a homework assignment
may only be worth 5 points, while a test,
project, or final writing may be worth 50
points.

23. Page 5: Parent Advocates for
Gifted Education
 Works with teachers and district on
issues critical to gifted education
 Members receive newsletters 2 -3
times per year with updates on
current trends and what is happening
in the district.
 Provides information on programs
and outside activities
 Small fee per family

24. National Junior Beta Club
 Students with qualifying grade averages will be
invited to join the Beta Club.
 Grades are based on 4th grade & 1st quarter 5th grades
 If students don’t qualify this time, they can still
qualify in 6th based on their 5th & 1st quarter 6th grades.
It’s NEVER too late to join!
 Requirements: Application fee and 2 hours
community service

25. Thank you
 We so appreciate your valuable time!
 To ensure your child’s confidentiality, we ask
that if you have an issue to discuss with a
teacher you fill out an index card or contact
us as a later to date.
 Please schedule a conference any time you
have an issue so that we may give you our
full attention.
 We look forward to a great year!