Back-to-School-Night Mr. Rojas, Room #122

Homework & Class Work Policy ✦

I give homework 4 nights a week for about 50 minutes per night.

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I don’t give homework on the weekends but any incomplete class work or homework will need to be completed over the weekend.

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Some of the homework is begun in class, like the math and the writing. Therefore, proper use of classroom time dictates how much time students will have to give to homework at home.

Thursday, 9/17/15

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Language Arts Online Resources Used in the Classroom/Homework

Accelerated Reader, Spelling City & Xtra Math www.rrojas.com/home/onlinesign-in

Accelerated Reader ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

measures amount of reading and level of comprehension tracks words read (CA standards goal: read 1 million words in the year) keeps track of books read (and types of books) allows me to analyze potential reasons behind some of the reading struggles

Spelling City ✦ gives repeated practice with spelling words and selection vocabulary ✦ provides immediate feedback ✦ the variety of spelling activities helps you learn the spelling of words, see them in the context of a sentence, learn their definitions and parts of speech, etc. ✦ the computer can give you a spelling test, similar to how Mr. Rojas does it and then it grades your answers. Great way to identify readiness! ✦ it’s an interactive, quick and fun way to play with words - not tedious

Lexia Core 5 ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

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teaches and gives repeated practice in Language Arts Common Core Standards 1-5 provides immediate feedback measures mastery and progress over time and allows me to print a progress report keeps track of problematic areas and helps me target these allows for differentiated instruction - your child is taught and tested at their level

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My Expectations for Fifth Graders

Online Resources Used in the Classroom/Homework

Online Math Programs: Matific, Front Row & Buzzmath www.rrojas.com/home/onlinesign-in

✦ provide repeated practice on just about every 5th grade math skill. Some of these do a great job with word problems.

These are the skills I personally think are needed for academic success: ✦ Study Skills (Retention of Information)

✦ I use Matific to get students ready for the 5th grade math content and then to have them reach mastery in it. The other programs are used to reinforce, over time, what they learned, in the context of real world problems (so they won’t forget the concept and so they know how to apply them appropriately).

✦ Organizational Skills (Planning Ahead & Responsibility) ✦ Writing Skills - The skills in writing that we will emphasize in fifth grade include various types of narrative writing assignments (personal narratives, myths & short stories) and expository writing assignments (multiple paragraph essays, research reports, persuasive compositions, & responses to literature).

✦ provide immediate feedback (really, really helpful - like having a personal tutor!) ✦ measure progress over time and provide a progress record for accountability. ✦ provide clear expectations for what to focus on - these expectations are stated orally by me, written on the board and outlined in the online programs.

✦ Computer/Technology Skills

✦ math problems should be done with paper and pencil in hand, in order to work them out fully, neatly and in a consistent manner (helps with retention).

✦ Mastery of Basic Math Facts (basic expectation for success in math) ✦ High Reading Comprehension – Accelerated Reader is the system we will

✦ FACT: students work out more problems online than they do in their workbooks.

use to measure ongoing reading. The basic goal for the year is 1 million words read. Students have already been given a point goal average per week based on their reading level. This expectation will affect the quarter grade.

✦ allow for differentiation - every student at their present math level in Frontrow. Those who are below grade level are catching up and getting exposure to Common Core standards they may have never learned or mastered.

✦ Higher Level Critical Thinking Skills

✦ allow for acceleration for those who quickly master the expected 5th grade standards. They can move on to new standards earlier and even onto new grade levels (Frontrow & Buzzmath).

✦ Independence & Perseverance

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Home Support with Homework & Learning Check Homework Completion Daily - Check daily to see that your child is doing the

Daily/Weekly Agenda

homework for that day (and reading for 30 minutes). Yes, online programs can be checked! Have your child sign-in and then look for progress. Your child should know how.

Check for Quality - Please do all you can do to make sure your child does quality work

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Language Arts and Math

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Science

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Social Studies

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Art

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P.E.

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Music (www.rrojas.com/5/music/modernband)

and completes all work on time. Have student redo what doesn’t meet fifth grade expectations. Math problems should be worked out fully, neatly and in an organized way.

Check for Completion of Week’s Homework - On Thursday night, check to see that all

homework is put together in the homework folder and fully ready to be turned in. It would save me a great deal of time on my end if you as the parent would check over your child’s homework for completeness, neatness, and accuracy.

Studying for Tests & Quizzes - When tests are forthcoming, please help your child

study for these tests over a period of several days in short study sessions (10 min), rather than allowing them to cram the night before. Cramming does not lead to long-term retention of the content.

Support with Writing - Feel free to provide support with your child in writing. I do ask

that the student’s writing be his/her own, but you may have discussions about their writing that will help them clarify and perfect their writing. For example, instead of saying, “This is what you should say…”, tell them, “How can you say this in a way that someone who doesn’t know you will understand what you are trying to say.” Also, “I noticed that you repeat yourself a lot here. How can you fix that?” or “How can you make that introduction more interesting for the reader?” or “I don’t understand this part.” In other words get the students to think for themselves about their writing - that is what helps them grow as writers. If you tell them what to write, they will remain dependent on the adult. Not Good!!!

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- daily with few exceptions. This will happen in the morning, up to lunch and past lunch (depending on rotations and day). – three times a week with 30-40 minute sessions.

– two times a week 30 minutes & almost daily 10 minute CNN Student News for learning about current events. – Art rotation with Ms. Gangi-Hall will be two 30 minute sessions per week. Art will also be integrated into the others subjects when we do project-based learning. – Two 30 minute sessions per week with Ms. Gwinn (indoors when too hot or smoggy) and a 40 minute session on Fridays, end of day, with all of 5th grade in the McKinley gym (when completed). - Two 30 minute sessions per week with Mr. Rojas. Students will learn to play the Ukulele as part of this Modern Band class and those who excel will be given the opportunity to learn other instruments (bass, keyboard, guitar and drums) as time allows. Ms. Orlova will also provide a pull-out for strings and band but only for those who sign-ed up for it.

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Warning to naturally smart (gifted) students: “Eventually the Tortoise will pass up the Hare, if the Hare begins to coast on his/her abilities rather than continue to grow and learn.”

GATE Differentiated Instruction: ✦

Challenge math & acceleration in math using various online programs

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Depth & complexity in the learning - these students will go deeper, and into more complex levels of learning as they show mastery of basic content

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Differentiation will also be seen in the final products kids make for their writing - these should show higher level quality and creativity

California State Standards (expectations) for fifth grade can be found at: ✦ ✦

mckinleytiger.com/castandards Parent handbook of standards, prepared by PUSD

Grading Policy: I use rubrics for most projects and writing assignments for two reasons: The rubric is non-biased and provides clear guidelines to the students as to what I will be looking for when I grade their work. All students would benefit from using the rubric to check how they might do on a specific writing assignment and to find out which expectation they have not met yet.

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Student Progress & Expectations Communicated

Examples of Project-Based Learning in our Classroom

I inform parents about the progress of their child and of upcoming projects,tests and assignments, in a number of ways (that’s my job): Weekly Homework Sheet – sent home every Monday with your child, it lists the homework and upcoming tests/quizzes, allowing you to start early and make sure your child learns the information over time. It also has weekly messages for you, the parent.

Class Dojo - Ongoing points about behavior and school habits, individual texts, and whole-

Students will be given greater choice on how they might present their findings

Panpipes Project - students make a panpipe, play song basic songs on it, and then write their own songs.

Mosaic Commissioned Art Piece - Each group will find someone on campus to commission a mosaic, and then will design it, put it together and deliver it.

class messages. Make sure to sign up for this service as this is my primary way to communicate with you!

Research Presentations - Some of the possible choices (Fall/Winter Celebration,

Teacher Portal Online Grading Program – You can access your child’s grades and

children may not be ready for a research report so they will be working on essays instead.

progress online at any time. As soon as the grade goes up, you have full access to it.

Every test is sent home to be signed by parent/guardian and to be returned to me the following day – I keep these in a portfolio and they serve as guides as I try to figure out the areas to help your child improve. Writing will not be sent home.

Individual e-mails or an occasional call home

Career Presentation, and a possible World Changer Presentation) - warning: some

Story in Commercials Project – Use story to create a commercial to lead people to sell a product or to take action on a cause.

Puppet Play & Show Project – Write and perform a puppet play for a young audience (K-2) that will teach them a valuable life lesson.

More comprehensive progress reports will be given at your parent conference in late September/October (including an Individualized Learning Plan for each child)

Your job: stay connected, informed and supportive of your child’s learning.

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Why the Common Core Standards? California Standards are too broad, covering a lot of content but not going deep enough (shallow). Common Core National Standards are less per grade but push for deeper learning, and call for students to employ higher level critical thinking skills. The national push is for meaningful learning that comes from solving realworld problems, and away from multiple choice, packaged problems. Targets the 4Cs = Communication, Creativity, Collaboration & Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Skills Calls for the integration of technology into instruction and student work/ research/products

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Project-Based Learning (PUSD focus)

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8 Essentials of Project-Based Learning

The core idea of project-based learning is that real-world problems capture students' interest and provoke serious thinking as the students acquire and apply new knowledge in a problem-solving context. The teacher plays the role of facilitator, working with students to frame worthwhile questions, structuring meaningful tasks, coaching both knowledge development and social skills, and carefully assessing what students have learned from the experience. Typical projects present a problem to solve (What is the best way to reduce the pollution in the schoolyard pond?) or a phenomenon to investigate (What causes rain?). Comprehensive Project-Based Learning: is organized around an open-ended driving question or challenge. creates a need to know essential content and skills. requires inquiry to learn and/or create something new. requires critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and various forms of communication, often known as "21st Century Skills." allows some degree of student voice and choice. incorporates feedback and revision. results in a publicly presented product or performance.

VIDEO: Project-Based Learning Explained - in English: http://youtu.be/LMCZvGesRz8 - in Spanish: http://youtu.be/wL4n-PdQXGs

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Classroom Website to Serve You and Your Child www.rrojas.com & www.mckinleytiger.com

Present Classroom Needs www.rrojas.com/parentpage/formshandouts/classroomneeds

Please come and visit! www.rrojas.com/5/science – Lots of online resources & activities for the science content taught in fifth grade.

www.rrojas.com/parentpage - Webpage with information for the

parent and the child. There are special classroom handouts, access to weekly homework packets, and other parent resources.

www.rrojas.com/mathfacts - Webpage made to help students

strengthen their basic math facts. When done in a fun game format, students will be more willing to do the usually tedious work of memorizing their times tables and working on their overall basic math skills.

www.rrojas.com/5/math - Webpage with online interactive and

activities that are aligned to each 5th grade Common Core math standard (if there is an appropriate and helpful activity).

Copy Paper Desk Wipes 12 Headphones (no earbuds) - used with our computers and devices. Sturdy kind is best - no $0.99 store quality!

Gift Cards to Target and/or Office Max - will be used to meet classroom needs & purchase project material not provided by school funds

Used Gift Cards - used for guitar picks as part of guitar class

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5th Grade Magazine Subscriptions

Your Child Should Bring the Following to Class Everyday

• I would love to get these 2 magazine yearly subscriptions to

every child in my class: Scholastic News & Science Spin. Unfortunately, it will cost a total of $7 per student (includes shipping & handling). We will use these in class throughout the year.

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•Water Bottle - preferably reusable with flip top or non-spill lid.

•Earphones or Earbuds - to keep in their desk for

the school year. We use it with out online programs daily. I do have some but in a limited quantity.

If you are able to pay $7 towards this, please do so by next week so I can pay the bill as soon as possible.

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