Mr. Biornstad welcomes parents to 5th grade curriculum night. He provides an overview of his background and teaching experience. He then summarizes the daily schedule and classroom expectations. The core subjects of reading, math, science, social studies and language arts are outlined, including standards, units of study, and assessments. Homework policies and the standards-based grading system are explained. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled and supplies needs shared.

1. Welcome to 5th Grade
Curriculum Night
Mr. Bret Biornstad
Bret.Biornstad@evergreenps.org
(360)-604-6650

2. Questions?
Comments?
Please write them on the
small index cards
The large index cards are for you to
take notes.

3. A little about me
● Teacher 23 years
● 3rd year at 5th Grade; 16 years at 4th
● Been at Fisher’s Landing since 1999
● Farmer, Assistant Plumber, Bookstore
manager, Office Manager, Insurance
Agent
● Wife of 32 years teaches 4th Gr.
● Luke & Lia, my son and daughter

4. Day in the Life of Room 205
● Mornings
● S.I.R
● Furniture
● Expectations

5. The Fifth Grade Year
● High expectations
● Responsibility
● Preparing for the transition to middle school
● Success
● Self-confidence-Growth Mindset
● Making learning fun
● Organization
● Time management
● Standards

6. Technology Integration
● Chromebooks:Mice, USB Lights, Bags,
Headsets, stylus
● Google Classroom
● Typing Club, EPS Math, STEMScopes
● IXL, Storybird, Kidblog, Newsela,CommonLit,
ReadWorks, etc.
● Ozobots, Code.org. Scratch
● Guidelines - Student Use

7. Reading
● To enjoy reading
● To read at or above grade level
● To read for various purposes
● To understand elements of literature
● To apply skills and strategies to comprehend
text and meaning
● To include text evidence to support our thinking
● To become engaged independent readers
● To increase vocabulary levels
● To become a more fluent reader (rate,
expression, phrasing)
● To become a wider reader

8. Reading

9. Math
● Addition & Subtraction Review
● Adding & Subtracting with Decimals
● Place Value (into thousandths)
● Estimation & Comparing and Ordering Numbers Review
● Problem Solving Strategies
● Multiplication Process Review
● Long Division
● Statistics
● Graphing
● Fractions & Decimals
● Geometry & Measurement
● Algebraic Sense (algebraic expressions)
● Modeling
● Mathematical Practices

10. Language
● Spelling –practice in their writing. Study patterns
and strategies. Weekly home practice as needed
based on assessments
● Forms –Narratives, Expository,
Persuasive/Opinion
● Emphasis on elaborating details and developing
craft
● 6-traits (word choice, sentence fluency, voice,
organization, ideas, conventions)
● Writing process-Writer’s Workshop

11. Science
● Inquiry process (investigations)
● Systems
● Landforms (erosion, deposition)
● Environments
● Energy Transfers
● Ecosystems/Food Webs
● Matter
● Force/Motion
● Models & Designs
● Human growth & development and HIV prevention (Spring)
● Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) in the spring
● STEM/Engineering/Technology NGSS Standards

12. Social Studies
● Geography
● Map skills
● Colonization
● Causes of the American Revolution
● Government – esp. Constitution, Bill of
Rights and the Declaration of Independence
● Citizenship

13. Homework
● Homework is posted each day on Google Classroom
● 20-60 minutes of independent reading every day, including at
school
● Keyboarding practice
● Independent math practice
● Math extensions from class work
● Additional practice with online applications
● Study for tests as needed
● Revising assignments as needed
If a child has done 50 - 60 min. of homework they should stop

14. Homework
● Homework will generally be assigned Monday-
Thursday. Of course it is their learning, if they
wish to engage in it on the weekends that’s a
personal decision
● My goal is to make homework more
personalized
● Occasionally students may have more one night
than another night.
● Communicate with me. (Email works best)

15. Homework Policy
● Homework
● -It is the student’s responsibility to get the assignments
done even if absent, if possible.
● -Students may review and retake any test or quiz.
Retests may be done at lunch recess.
● -Students may redo or fix assignments.

16. Missing school work
● If your child is out sick, but could do work while
at home, please email me to give me time to get
work together for the front office, neighbor, or
sibling. They can also check Google Classroom
online from home.
● If you’re going to be taking a trip and your child
will be missing school, it is very difficult to
prepare items ahead of time as most
assignments/learning takes place in the
classroom and will be missed.

17. Standards Based Grading
● Gradebook on Skyward
● Quality counts
● Draft work may be quick and not “perfect”
● 4 – this evidence of learning exceeds end of grade
level standards– not always possible on every
assignment
● 3 – this evidence of learning meets grade level
expectations/standards (not necessarily perfect, but
meets the basic criteria for the assignment)
● 2 – this evidence of learning shows progress
towards grade level expectations/standards
● 1 – this evidence of learning indicates below grade
expectations/standards performance

18. Conferences
● Students are expected to attend
● We sit together and go over progress, concerns, and
establish some goals to work towards.
● If you have something you’d like to discuss with me
privately, let me know ahead of time and I’ll arrange a way
to do this.
● Conference Sign Up coming soon

19. Fifth Grade Assessments
✓ Assess to drive instruction
✓ Assess to check student progress
✓ District Reading & Math Assessments - iReady
✓ Writing Assessments given each trimester for the area
of focus (Narrative, Expository, Persuasive/Opinion)
✓ The Spring Measurement of Student Progress WCAS
for Science.
✓ Smarter Balanced Assessments in ELA (English
Language Arts) and Mathematics - you and your
child can try these SBA practice tests

20. Almost done…
● Band and orchestra students
● Scholastic book orders online monthly
● Background Checks expire every 2 years
● Mariners’ Loot
● Supplies
● District Handbook