During the month of January we focus on the Discipline with Purpose (DWP) skill of leadership. There are many ways that fifth graders are called to leadership throughout the year:  leading Masses and prayer services; buddy activities; setting up tables for Lenten fish fry; in the classroom leading activities, groupwork, and teaching skills; performing plays; serving at Mass or singing in the choir; being involved in a sport, club or extracurricular activity; and many other opportunities throughout the year.  My hope is for the class to come up with another larger service project this year--one that will help someone in need.  

5A will lead two other Masses this year on January 25th and March 21st.  Mass is at 8:00 A.M. each Wednesday. You are welcome to join us each week at Mass in the Sacred Heart Church.  

AR point goal is 25 for Trimester 2.  Students should continue to read a variety of books at his/her level and take the AR test for that book soon after completion.  

Students have been given an Illustrated Book Project for Student Spotlight due January 26th.   It will be an illustrated book project where story elements are drawn with captions and illustrations are viewed on our document camera while the student tells about the story!  It is usually a student favorite!  See handout for details.  

Reading motivator for trimester 2:  5th grade money triples for every AR point.  25 AR points = $75! at the end of trimester 2.

1.  Respect yourself, others, and things.

2.  Contribute to the learning environment.

3.  Follow school and classroom procedures. 

Positive Behavior Consequences:

*5th grade money earned (fake money students earn to buy rewards)

*Special rewards like extra recess, extra game time, choice time.

*Individual certificates

Negative Behavior Consequences:

*Verbal and nonverbal warnings

*Move away from group or problem area

*Loss of recess or partial loss of recess

*Action Plan--Reflection sheet of behavior signed by parent

*Meet with Ms. Bursey and phone call home

*Meeting with family and child with Ms. Bursey and Mrs. McCormick

Scholastic Book Orders: Scholastic Book orders can now be placed online! Our classroom will earn free books if you choose to do this. A paper order form will come home, but you can order the same books online. LOOK FOR A NEW BOOK ORDER COMING HOME ON SEPTEMBER 12th! 

Go to: http://www.scholastic.com/clubsordering

Go to the Parent tab and click book clubs online ordering

Our activation code is GYQ9C. This code will link you to our classroom book order page.   Thanks for your order!

Saxon Math

• Students complete all Problem Set problems on looseleaf or box paper each day.
• Problems are recycled—in other words, example problems taught earlier in the year will be seen again from lesson to lesson.  To help check this, in parentheses under each problem there is a number, which is the lesson to refer back to for help.  Encourage your child to use his/her math book like a reference book and check back for lesson explanations.  If you want to help your child check his/her math homework, that is fine.  Just don't do the problems for them!
• Students correct their own math problems each day in class.  They are then encouraged to self-correct their mistakes by showing the work and/or explaining what they did wrong the first time.  Students will then self-grade their homework.  On the top of the paper the student writes the number of the problems he/she feels is UNDERSTOOD.  The problem may have been incorrect, but after corrections and explanations, if the student feels like he/she understands all the problems, then the total number will go on the top.  If one is still confusing, then a 29 out of 30 would be written.  That one problem should be clearly marked so that I can reteach that problem in a future lesson.  This system has shown to increase motivation, understanding, confidence, and responsibility.
• Students complete a daily timed test (60-100 problems in 5 minutes) and mental math (5-10 problems).
• Math grade breakdown:  25% homework, 25% participation/quizzes, 50% tests
• There is no “retesting” or “correcting” tests or quizzes unless below average is shown. Students will then get the opportunity to retest and the average of the two tests will be recorded.   

• NO ZERO POLICY unless no attempt by student is made to turn in the work.  Then, and only then, will the assignment become a zero.

• All assignment are due the next day unless noted or student has been absent.

• Absent students have two days for every day they are absent to complete work.  

• Late assignments will receive the following once work is graded:  1 day late = 90% of final grade; 2 days late = 85% of final grade; 3 days late = 80% of final grade; 4 days late = 75% of final grade; 5 days late = 70 % of final grade; after that work handed in will receive half credit (50%)

Did you know?

• Each student should be writing assignments in his/her assignment notebook each night and should be asking you to check over the work (if needed) and signing his/her assignment notebook. Thanks for reminding them about this important skill process! If you do take homework out of the file folder, PLEASE put it back in there. Papers in the file folder are ones we currently NEED for class each day! (Monday green folder papers are the only homework papers that can stay at home!) Thanks for your help!

• Assignments should be completed neatly, completely, and ON TIME! Late homework will not receive full credit.  If we have completed the unit and have moved on to something different, than a 0 will be given for an assignment never turned in.  

• There is daily 8:00 AM Mass at Sacred Heart Church. Students gather on Wednesdays for an all-school Mass with the parishioners. On the third Wednesday of each month students will lead us in song.  Please join us if you can.