5th Grade Policies
Reading Expectations for 5th Graders
Reading should be fun, so fifth graders are always encouraged to select books that they enjoy and that inspire them to read more. Over the course of the year, we expect students will become stronger, more confident readers because they practice reading at home and at school. One way for students, teachers and parents to track reading growth is through the Accelerated Reader program.
All fifth graders are expected to read 20-30 minutes each night and take Accelerated Reader quizzes, at school, to track their reading progress. In general, fifth graders should be able to read two, grade-level novels per month and work towards achieving the Accelerated Reader point goal, set by Bel Aire teachers. However, we recognize that reading enjoyment, individual reading levels, and the novels students select, will influence the number of novels students complete during the school year.
By taking Accelerated Reader quizzes, and working towards a point goal, children begin to better understand their reading ability and are empowered to select new books that will help them develop reading ability. Students can also look forward to regular school-wide celebrations for reading achievement. Accelerated Reader also enables teachers and parents to monitor reading growth, to make recommendations for new books, and to communicate with each other on ways to support reading at school and at home.
If you have more questions about expectations for reading in the fifth grade please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
5th Grade Policies and Guidelines
Classroom Management
As the classroom facilitator, it is our hope that your child will become more confident with time management, personal organization, and academic autonomy. With guidance and practice, your child will learn to:
• Listen to, watch for, and follow directions
• Manage assignments and complete them within the expected time
• Work with other students to solve problems or clarify assignments
• Be responsible for all assignments and due dates
• Take academic risk and/or seek out challenging work
• Be confident and independent
• Self advocate
• Be curious and look for ways to extend learning
• Assess and reflect on their own learning
Rewards and Consequences
Students are expected to follow the Bel Aire School rules at all times. Please review the school’s Student Handbook for more information.
Rewards
Students give, or are given, positive affirmations when they make good choices, show appropriate behavior, or go out of their way to follow the Character Pillars. Affirmations may be “Caught Being Good” slips or other classroom recognition. Students’ intrinsic motivation is developed and encouraged.
Consequences
Consequences for inappropriate behavior or choices depend on the severity of the incident and are as follows:
Minor offenses (ex: disrupting classroom activities or off-task): Student is given a verbal warning. If the behavior continues, the student is given an additional warning. If the behavior still continues, the student receives a STOP and the parent is notified.
Major offenses (ex: teasing, bullying, or any other malicious, intentionally harmful or dangerous activity): immediate CITATION and parent notification.
NOTE: The third STOP in one trimester equals a CITATION. All CITATIONS will result in a loss of privileges, including, but not limited to multiple lunch recesses, field trips, school assemblies, and classroom parties. The teacher and/or principal determine each privilege. Please carefully review the school’s handbook.
Homework & Assignments
All homework is an extension of classroom. Homework should be done independently, but parents are welcome to help if a child is struggling at home. PLEASE let me know if your child requires more than a minimal amount of help.
Homework and Projects
Students receive nightly homework to practice concepts learned in class. It is expected that students complete:
• Math Practice & Problem Solving
• One other assignment, at teacher discretion
• Long-term projects
• Read 30 minutes nightly (monitored by Acclerated Reader points)
Students are required to complete projects at home. Projects may include, but are not limited to, current events, math problems of the month, or book reports.
All assignments can be viewed online on the classroom website, classroom calendar or in your child’s Planner.
Late & Missing Projects
All assignments are due on the date specified. Nightly homework is expected the next day. If a student does not have his/her homework, he/she will miss morning recess in order to complete the work. If assignments are repeatedly missing, then a parent/teacher/student conference will be scheduled. In the case of absences, students are expected to make up missing work upon return to school. Students are given an equal number of days for which they were absent to make up work.
Quality of Work
Students are expected to turn in their best work, which means assignments show effort and are complete.
Grading Policy
Grades will be based on assessment of the California Standards through daily class work, projects, and tests/quizzes. Assignments that are turned in more than one day late (absences excluded) will result in reduced scores.
Communication
You will be notified of your child’s progress through the following:
• Weekly communication slips
• Classroom website
• Homework assignments online
• Mid trimester progress reports
• Trimester report cards
• Parent/teacher/STUDENT conferences
• Email
Reading should be fun, so fifth graders are always encouraged to select books that they enjoy and that inspire them to read more. Over the course of the year, we expect students will become stronger, more confident readers because they practice reading at home and at school. One way for students, teachers and parents to track reading growth is through the Accelerated Reader program.
All fifth graders are expected to read 20-30 minutes each night and take Accelerated Reader quizzes, at school, to track their reading progress. In general, fifth graders should be able to read two, grade-level novels per month and work towards achieving the Accelerated Reader point goal, set by Bel Aire teachers. However, we recognize that reading enjoyment, individual reading levels, and the novels students select, will influence the number of novels students complete during the school year.
By taking Accelerated Reader quizzes, and working towards a point goal, children begin to better understand their reading ability and are empowered to select new books that will help them develop reading ability. Students can also look forward to regular school-wide celebrations for reading achievement. Accelerated Reader also enables teachers and parents to monitor reading growth, to make recommendations for new books, and to communicate with each other on ways to support reading at school and at home.
If you have more questions about expectations for reading in the fifth grade please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
5th Grade Policies and Guidelines
Classroom Management
As the classroom facilitator, it is our hope that your child will become more confident with time management, personal organization, and academic autonomy. With guidance and practice, your child will learn to:
• Listen to, watch for, and follow directions
• Manage assignments and complete them within the expected time
• Work with other students to solve problems or clarify assignments
• Be responsible for all assignments and due dates
• Take academic risk and/or seek out challenging work
• Be confident and independent
• Self advocate
• Be curious and look for ways to extend learning
• Assess and reflect on their own learning
Rewards and Consequences
Students are expected to follow the Bel Aire School rules at all times. Please review the school’s Student Handbook for more information.
Rewards
Students give, or are given, positive affirmations when they make good choices, show appropriate behavior, or go out of their way to follow the Character Pillars. Affirmations may be “Caught Being Good” slips or other classroom recognition. Students’ intrinsic motivation is developed and encouraged.
Consequences
Consequences for inappropriate behavior or choices depend on the severity of the incident and are as follows:
Minor offenses (ex: disrupting classroom activities or off-task): Student is given a verbal warning. If the behavior continues, the student is given an additional warning. If the behavior still continues, the student receives a STOP and the parent is notified.
Major offenses (ex: teasing, bullying, or any other malicious, intentionally harmful or dangerous activity): immediate CITATION and parent notification.
NOTE: The third STOP in one trimester equals a CITATION. All CITATIONS will result in a loss of privileges, including, but not limited to multiple lunch recesses, field trips, school assemblies, and classroom parties. The teacher and/or principal determine each privilege. Please carefully review the school’s handbook.
Homework & Assignments
All homework is an extension of classroom. Homework should be done independently, but parents are welcome to help if a child is struggling at home. PLEASE let me know if your child requires more than a minimal amount of help.
Homework and Projects
Students receive nightly homework to practice concepts learned in class. It is expected that students complete:
• Math Practice & Problem Solving
• One other assignment, at teacher discretion
• Long-term projects
• Read 30 minutes nightly (monitored by Acclerated Reader points)
Students are required to complete projects at home. Projects may include, but are not limited to, current events, math problems of the month, or book reports.
All assignments can be viewed online on the classroom website, classroom calendar or in your child’s Planner.
Late & Missing Projects
All assignments are due on the date specified. Nightly homework is expected the next day. If a student does not have his/her homework, he/she will miss morning recess in order to complete the work. If assignments are repeatedly missing, then a parent/teacher/student conference will be scheduled. In the case of absences, students are expected to make up missing work upon return to school. Students are given an equal number of days for which they were absent to make up work.
Quality of Work
Students are expected to turn in their best work, which means assignments show effort and are complete.
Grading Policy
Grades will be based on assessment of the California Standards through daily class work, projects, and tests/quizzes. Assignments that are turned in more than one day late (absences excluded) will result in reduced scores.
Communication
You will be notified of your child’s progress through the following:
• Weekly communication slips
• Classroom website
• Homework assignments online
• Mid trimester progress reports
• Trimester report cards
• Parent/teacher/STUDENT conferences