5th Grade

State Standards

5th Grade News

Meet Ms. Harner
Hello, my name is Tabatha Harner and I am the current intern in Mrs. Adderhold’s social studies class. Last May I graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Speech Pathology and a minor in Elementary Education. Since June, I have been working hard as a graduate student through UT’s elementary education program. Half of my year is spent with Mrs. Adderhold and the other half is spent at Alcoa Elementary School in Ms. Stuart’s second grade classroom. I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and have enjoyed teaching everyone about life on the West Coast, while they teach me about beautiful East Tennessee. I believe that living in different locations around the country was what led me to want to be in a social studies classroom. I enjoy learning about and teaching how people’s lives are affected by the time and location in which they live. When I have free time I love taking photographs (my sweet little cousins are my favorite models☺), scrapbooking, spending time with my family, game nights with my friends, and above all else, traveling. I’m grateful for my experiences this year with all the staff and students while they help transition me from a student to a teacher.

Reading

One of the biggest challenges fifth graders have is organization. To help 5th graders organize their reading materials, we have put together reading notebooks. Every 5th grader has a 3 ring binder with tabbed sections for reading. Every piece of paper they receive in reading class is filed in the binder. Students are reminded daily where to file their work in the appropriate sections. By having a place for everything, reading work should be easily accessible and organized at all times.

The notebook is organized as follows:

Tab #1 Clean paper
Tab #2 Vocabulary
Tab #3 Notes
Tab #4 Graded Work
Tab #5 Standards

All work stays in the notebook for the entire nine weeks. After final report cards go home, students can empty the graded work section in preparation for the next nine weeks. All other sections stay in the notebook and are used throughout the remainder of the school year.

Students also have an orange folder designated as their HOMEWORK Folder. Students take this folder to every class with their planners and put homework in the "TO DO" side. Upon completion, homework is placed in the "TO TURN IN" side. This works really well and prevents lost homework assignments.

Another way we promote responsibility is through the use of the Student Planner. Students are reminded each class period to fill out their planner before leaving the classroom. Teachers write what is to be copied by the student before they leave the classroom. Please check your child's planner at home each evening. The planner should say what took place in each class and if there is any homework due the following day. The planner is also a good communication tool between parents and teachers.

AR
In the fifth grade, Accelerated Reader is used as an award/incentive program to encourage independent reading. Students have been given their AR goals, have written them in the front of their planners, and should strive to be halfway toward making that goal by progress report time. They are allowed to read anything they choose that is on the AR test list at AMS. Students are not limited to reading books in a specific range and are encouraged to read whatever sparks their interest.

Every nine weeks we take a special field trip to reward students who have made their AR goal. AR is not part of the reading grade and is only used to motivate students to read for pleasure. The trips are a lot of fun. Please encourage your child to make his or her AR goal. 5th grade AR cut-offs are as follows: 1st 9 weeks: 9/16, 2nd nine weeks: 12/8, 3rd nine weeks: 2/24, 4th nine weeks: 5/12. These dates are the last day to take an AR test for that grading term.

Science
So far this year we have studied cells and both their functions and structures. We have also studied different environments and habitats. Ms. Eslinger is an intern working with our classes and she brought in some Hickory horned devils for the class to observe. These are the largest caterpillars in North America. The class has also adopted a class pet, a hamster named Gimli. Ms. McBrayer LOVES Gimli and wishes she had one of her own.

After School Tutoring

After school tutoring for students began on Monday, August 4. It will be available Monday through Thursday until 4:00. Students must have homework or skills that need improving to attend. Mrs. Martin will be working with seventh and eighth graders, Mrs. Brown with sixth graders, and Mr. Wolfe with the fifth graders. Tutoring has been successful for students who need help with homework or for those who need extra help with specific skills. Students need to take advantage of this service provided by the school.

Supply List for 2008-2009

1 dozen pencils (no mechanical pencils)

2 packages of 100 sheet loose leaf paper

2 - 3 ring binders

4 packages of 5 count tabbed index dividers (for the binders)

1 set of 12 colored pencils

1 set of 12 markers
1 ruler with both inches and centimeters

2 boxes of facial tissue

1 ream of copy paper

1 small package of 3X5 white, lined index cards

2 small packages of multicolored construction paper

1 pair of scissors (sharp point)

1 small bottle of Elmer's glue

1 - 4 pack of Expo Dry-Erase markers (no low odor)

10 - 3 pronged, 2 pocket folders (2 each of 5 different colors)