Materials needed for fifth graders:

1. Scissors (sharp)

2. 2 glue sticks

3. Black & blue ink pens (erasable)

4. 3 packs of loose leaf notebook paper – wide ruled

5. A durable 3-ringed binder

6. Color marker set

7. Box of 24 crayons and colored pencils (box of 12)

8. 1 large box of tissues

9. #2 pencils

10. 2 spiral notebooks

11. Plastic zipper bag for markers (Ziplocs work great)

12. 2 yellow highlighters

13. 3” x 5” index cards

14. 1 pack of dividers for binder

15. 1 dry eraser

16. 4 dry erase markers (low odor, please)

17. 1 bottle of hand sanitizer from each girl

1 bottle of liquid soap from each boy

18. 3 red ink pens

19. 3 folders w/prongs

Please make sure your child’s name is printed clearly on all supplies. Please replenish them regularly. Some items tend to run out quickly.

The school will be providing the assignment book-planners that are required for all students. Please do not purchase another assignment book.

Reading

At the fifth-grade level, students will become increasingly independent readers of a variety of literary forms. Strategies such as word analysis and the use of context clues and word references will help students increase fluency as well as comprehension. They will begin to read text critically to examine implied relationships and understandings, recognize how character and plot are developed, and formulate and justify opinions about the text. They will organize the information they extract from the text and represent their understandings on charts, maps, and graphs.

Writing

Fifth graders will continue to work on their writing skills. Lessons will be conducted on the various elements of the English language. These skills will be incorporated into students’ writing as they compose essays on various writing prompts. These prompts will allow students to practice writing for different purposes.

In March, the students will participate in the fifth grade Writing SOL. This SOL is a two-part assessment. The first day of the test is the multiple-choice portion in which students answer questions pertaining to the mechanics and organization of the English language. On the second day of the test, students partake in a direct-writing portion. The students are given a prompt on which to compose an essay. Students’ essays are graded on Composition, Written Expression, and Usage/Mechanics. Each of these three domains is graded on a four-point scale, for a total of twelve possible cumulative points. A rubric will be used throughout the school year to align with this upcoming SOL test.

Science

The fifth-grade science standards focus on the importance of selecting appropriate instruments for measuring and recording observations. The organization, analysis, and application of data continue to be an important focus of classroom inquiry. Science skills from preceding grades, including questioning, using and validating evidence, and systematic experimentation, are reinforced at this level. Students are introduced to more detailed concepts of sound and light and the tools used for studying them. Key concepts of matter, including those about atoms, molecules, elements, and compounds, are studied, and the properties of matter are defined in greater detail. The cellular makeup of organisms and the distinguishing characteristics of groups of organisms are stressed. Students learn about the characteristics of the oceans and the Earth’s changing surface.

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/go/Sols/home.shtml.

The fifth-grade students will focus on developing proficiency in using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals to solve problems. Students will collect, display, and analyze data in a variety of ways and solve probability problems, using a sample space or tree diagram. Students will solve problems involving volume, area, and perimeter and will also be introduced to variable expressions and open sentences.

Social Studies

In fifth grade, social studies consists of the second part of Virginia Studies. Students will be reviewing last year’s material, then moving on to new content. The fifth grade covers the causes and battles of the American Civil War, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement, Modern Virginia, and Virginia Government. Look forward to an exciting year of activities, projects, and new information!

SOL Information

Fifth grade is an SOL testing year for all core subject areas. The SOL assessment for writing and language arts will be given in March. The SOL assessment for reading, math, science, and social studies are in May.

Homework Policy

Homework and earns a completion grade. If a student turns homework in one day late, he/she will receive half credit. After that time, a student will receive a zero for the homework assignment. Homework will be recorded in student planner and listed on ischool.

Grading Scale:

Reading, Language Arts, & Spelling:

10% Homework

30% Class work

60% Assessments

Math, Science & Social Studies:

10% Homework

20% Class work

30% Quizzes

40% Tests