5th Grade English Language Arts Syllabus
Mrs. Engelbrecht
Curriculum
We have six units of study in 5th grade English Language Arts (ELA). At the beginning of each unit I will send home a parent letter explaining what standards we will be covering. The Common Core Standards focus on developing a strong foundation in literacy and informational texts, oral and written communication, as well as a deeper understanding of our language. In order to incorporate these standards into your child’s daily English Language Arts routine I will be teaching the literary, writing, and language standards during our ELA block. We incorporate Social Studies through reading, writing and geography in homerooms.
Grades
5th grade ELA students will have a reading grade and a language grade. The reading grade will consist of 75% classwork and 25% AR. 10% will be percentage of goal met and 15% will be comprehension. Parents can sign up with Parent Portal on the district homepage to monitor grades online.
Late Work
Students will be given ample opportunity to make up missing, absent, or late work, within reason. Students will have the week they miss to complete work, and the following week. Missing/Absent work will not be accepted after the second Friday it is missing. In order to assure that each child’s grade reflects their academic performance, and not a lack of assignments the following measures will be taken to help each child succeed.
Absent Work
Students are responsible to get the assignments missed when absent. I have trays in my room marked with the days of the week. When they get back to school they need to go to the tray and get the work from the days they missed. They have the same number of days they were gone to complete the work and get it turned in. If you would like me to send make up work home on the day they are gone please contact the office or email me and I can get that together for you on my plan time. Please remember my plan time is not until the end of the day, 2:00-2:50. Students will also have to make up the read aloud by reading the part they missed independently.
Data Binders
Students will be keeping individual data binders to track the student's progress in AR as well as their understanding on the standards. Students will record pretest and posttest scores so they can monitor their understanding of a skill. They will be kept in the classroom, and used for parent teacher conferences. If you would like to see the binder your student can bring it home, but they have to bring it back to school the next day.
AR
Students will have an AR goal to reach every quarter. Students are allowed to take tests on read alouds and literature circle books we read in class. Those books will factor into their goals. This will also ensure that they are attentive during these times.Their points consist of independent books, read alouds, and literature circle assignments.
Goals will be set on an individual basis. Each book has a point value. Before I set their goal each quarter I conference with them about what they plan on reading.
Students need to keep their AR comprehension above 80% to obtain their goal.
I will keep you updated on their progress by sending home an AR slip in their Monday folder, or students can log in to their Renaissance Home Connect.
I have a giant classroom library, and encourage students to find books that ‘speak’ to them. However, I respect you to make the right decisions for your child in terms of their maturity levels within the literary world. Young Adult novels have a giant pull towards kids in this age group. I will be sending home a YA Fiction Permission Slip with this packet if you would be willing to allow your child to read novels from this section of my library (and the school library). I ask that even if you sent one in last year, you send it in again for my personal records. If you have any questions in regards to the content of the books, I’d be willing to send you a link of books that your child and I would be considering for future reading.
Reading Logs
Starting August 24th students will have a weekly reading log. The logs will be sent home on Mondays in the student's folder and they are due when they come into class the following Monday. Students need to read two hours every week at home. Students can count what they read in an after school book club towards the two hours. The reading log is worth five points a week. The student either receives the full five points or a zero. The form must also be signed by a parent. Late forms are not accepted unless the student was absent the day it was due. If they were absent it is due the next day the student is at school. This is a great way for students to get extra practice reading.
Mark Twain Books
The purpose of the Mark Twain Award is to provide children of Missouri with a recommended reading list of literature that will enrich their lives. Students are required to read four Mark Twain nominees by March 4, 2016. They are allowed to test on these books even if they are not in their AR level. We will be reading aloud two of these books in class. They can count the read alouds, so technically they only have to read two. I will also offer after school book clubs once the year gets underway. These books are available in my classroom, the school library has numerous copies, and also the Memorial Library. If a student needs one of these books please let me know and I will get it for them.
Behavior Expectations
I use Class Dojo to track students’ positive and negative behavior. Within the first few weeks of school we will be writing a Social Contract together on how each of us is to treat one another. This Social Contract will be the driving force behind Dojo points. The following behaviors are documented through Class Dojo. Students receive points for positive behavior and have them taken away for negative behaviors. Students are allowed to cash in points on Fridays at the end of class. Parents can login to the student's account to monitor classroom behaviors.
Positive
Needs Improvement
-1 point-Warning
-2 points- 5 minutes of recess
-3 points- Phone Call home
-4 points- No Fun Friday and sent to Principal
Monday Folders
Folders will be sent home every week please check over the information and work. If you need to contact me the best way is by email or phone call. Sometimes red folders don’t always get returned.
Library
We will go to library on Mondays. Students need to bring all of the books they have checked out every week.
Snacks
Students may bring snacks and water (only with a lid) to my class. During AR students will be allowed to eat their snack. Please make sure the snack is easy to eat and will not be a class distraction (i.e. an entire bag of chips or a bag of candy).
Please never hesitate to contact me, I am looking forward to a great year!
Mrs. Engelbrecht
Curriculum
We have six units of study in 5th grade English Language Arts (ELA). At the beginning of each unit I will send home a parent letter explaining what standards we will be covering. The Common Core Standards focus on developing a strong foundation in literacy and informational texts, oral and written communication, as well as a deeper understanding of our language. In order to incorporate these standards into your child’s daily English Language Arts routine I will be teaching the literary, writing, and language standards during our ELA block. We incorporate Social Studies through reading, writing and geography in homerooms.
Grades
5th grade ELA students will have a reading grade and a language grade. The reading grade will consist of 75% classwork and 25% AR. 10% will be percentage of goal met and 15% will be comprehension. Parents can sign up with Parent Portal on the district homepage to monitor grades online.
Late Work
Students will be given ample opportunity to make up missing, absent, or late work, within reason. Students will have the week they miss to complete work, and the following week. Missing/Absent work will not be accepted after the second Friday it is missing. In order to assure that each child’s grade reflects their academic performance, and not a lack of assignments the following measures will be taken to help each child succeed.
- Missing work will be given to child to be completed as homework.
- Any missing work will result in a Fun Friday study hall regardless of day missed.
- A parent phone call will occur letting parents know that there is currently a missing assignment that will need to be completed that evening OR an after school detention will take place the following day.
- After school detention will take place with a certified staff available for academic support.
- After the second Friday of missing work, a zero will be given.
Absent Work
Students are responsible to get the assignments missed when absent. I have trays in my room marked with the days of the week. When they get back to school they need to go to the tray and get the work from the days they missed. They have the same number of days they were gone to complete the work and get it turned in. If you would like me to send make up work home on the day they are gone please contact the office or email me and I can get that together for you on my plan time. Please remember my plan time is not until the end of the day, 2:00-2:50. Students will also have to make up the read aloud by reading the part they missed independently.
Data Binders
Students will be keeping individual data binders to track the student's progress in AR as well as their understanding on the standards. Students will record pretest and posttest scores so they can monitor their understanding of a skill. They will be kept in the classroom, and used for parent teacher conferences. If you would like to see the binder your student can bring it home, but they have to bring it back to school the next day.
AR
Students will have an AR goal to reach every quarter. Students are allowed to take tests on read alouds and literature circle books we read in class. Those books will factor into their goals. This will also ensure that they are attentive during these times.Their points consist of independent books, read alouds, and literature circle assignments.
Goals will be set on an individual basis. Each book has a point value. Before I set their goal each quarter I conference with them about what they plan on reading.
Students need to keep their AR comprehension above 80% to obtain their goal.
I will keep you updated on their progress by sending home an AR slip in their Monday folder, or students can log in to their Renaissance Home Connect.
I have a giant classroom library, and encourage students to find books that ‘speak’ to them. However, I respect you to make the right decisions for your child in terms of their maturity levels within the literary world. Young Adult novels have a giant pull towards kids in this age group. I will be sending home a YA Fiction Permission Slip with this packet if you would be willing to allow your child to read novels from this section of my library (and the school library). I ask that even if you sent one in last year, you send it in again for my personal records. If you have any questions in regards to the content of the books, I’d be willing to send you a link of books that your child and I would be considering for future reading.
Reading Logs
Starting August 24th students will have a weekly reading log. The logs will be sent home on Mondays in the student's folder and they are due when they come into class the following Monday. Students need to read two hours every week at home. Students can count what they read in an after school book club towards the two hours. The reading log is worth five points a week. The student either receives the full five points or a zero. The form must also be signed by a parent. Late forms are not accepted unless the student was absent the day it was due. If they were absent it is due the next day the student is at school. This is a great way for students to get extra practice reading.
Mark Twain Books
The purpose of the Mark Twain Award is to provide children of Missouri with a recommended reading list of literature that will enrich their lives. Students are required to read four Mark Twain nominees by March 4, 2016. They are allowed to test on these books even if they are not in their AR level. We will be reading aloud two of these books in class. They can count the read alouds, so technically they only have to read two. I will also offer after school book clubs once the year gets underway. These books are available in my classroom, the school library has numerous copies, and also the Memorial Library. If a student needs one of these books please let me know and I will get it for them.
Behavior Expectations
I use Class Dojo to track students’ positive and negative behavior. Within the first few weeks of school we will be writing a Social Contract together on how each of us is to treat one another. This Social Contract will be the driving force behind Dojo points. The following behaviors are documented through Class Dojo. Students receive points for positive behavior and have them taken away for negative behaviors. Students are allowed to cash in points on Fridays at the end of class. Parents can login to the student's account to monitor classroom behaviors.
Positive
- Helping Others
- On Task
- Participating
- Persistence
- Teamwork
- Working Hard
Needs Improvement
- Disrespect
- No Homework
- Off Task
- Unprepared
- Talking out of turn
-1 point-Warning
-2 points- 5 minutes of recess
-3 points- Phone Call home
-4 points- No Fun Friday and sent to Principal
Monday Folders
Folders will be sent home every week please check over the information and work. If you need to contact me the best way is by email or phone call. Sometimes red folders don’t always get returned.
Library
We will go to library on Mondays. Students need to bring all of the books they have checked out every week.
Snacks
Students may bring snacks and water (only with a lid) to my class. During AR students will be allowed to eat their snack. Please make sure the snack is easy to eat and will not be a class distraction (i.e. an entire bag of chips or a bag of candy).
Please never hesitate to contact me, I am looking forward to a great year!