Welcome to St. John's Fifth Grade.

Math
Students will be grouped according to their ability, achievement, previous teacher’s recommendations, and present teacher’s observation of work. Provisions are made to insure mobility between the two groups if the need arises throughout the year.

The Silver Burdett Mathematics is on-level material, which is designed to help students gain a solid background of math concepts. Many other manipulatives and materials will be used for supplementary instruction. Topics covered this year will include: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. Chapters covering geometry, measurement, and consumer’s math will be taught. Special emphasis will be given to strengthening problem solving skills, estimation skills, fraction concepts and decimal concepts.

Students are required to complete homework about four nights a week. Tests are given approximately each month. Students are highly encouraged to take home their book and notebook to study for tests. Students’ grades are based on homework, class participation, and tests.

Reading
Five specific areas of concentration are evaluated in our program: comprehension, workbook, vocabulary, oral reading, discussion, and written work.We use the MacMillen McGraw- Hill textbook. Children are placed into their Reading groups by homeroom. All students have the opportunity to use our school’s library each week and are required to complete a formal book report or project each month. Students should be reading their books at home. In addition, time at home each week should be spent studying for vocabulary quizzes, and periodically completing various written and workbook assignments. Students will receive a separate grade in each of the five areas mentioned. An average of these grades will determine an overall reading grade. An effort grade is also given.

Science
In fifth grade, the MacMillan McGraw-Hill textbooks are used to develop an understanding of the Physical Sciences and the scientific process. Children are encouraged to read the newspaper, magazines, encyclopedias, and other resources available to help understand the concepts and vocabulary being developed in the classroom.

The students will participate in class discussions and labs, and completing study guides, lab sheets, reports, and projects. Vocabulary quizzes and tests will be given for each chapter. The students will develop their expository writing and outlining skills in order to complete at least one research project.

Social Studies
The fifth grade course involves the study of the history of the United States from the MacMillen McGraw-Hill textbook. Various assignments and projects will be assigned according to specific units and chapters of study. Tests will be given at the end of each chapter, therefore, it may be helpful if students brought home their books to study the material before the exam. We will also be reading Time for Kids magazine, a few times a month, in order to keep up with current events in the news. Grading is based on test scores and homework. An effort grade is also given.

Religion
The fifth grade text, Credo: I Believe, in an introduction to the creed and teachings of the faith. The fifth grader has an active imagination and is advancing in his/her use of reason. The student is able to apply simple concepts to the world around him/her and apply an example from experience to a given lesson. The teacher will make use of true-to-life presentations, using concrete examples reinforced through repetition, such as those included in the manual, in addition to the catechist's personal good example.

You are encouraged to take an active part in your child’s religious education by discussing the topics in the text and relating to the text.

Our weekly liturgy for the students will be at 9 A.M. on Friday. You are invited to join us.

English
The fifth grade course aims to develop a functional understanding of the English Language through the prepositional approach. We use Voyages in English textbooks as a reference for both grammar and writing. Students will be taught: grammar, parts of speech, correct usage, punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, and composition.

Also during English, the students will learn about the writing process through Writer’s Workshop. A strong emphasis will be placed on mastering techniques necessary to becoming a successful writer and editor, and developing the elements of good writing. We will explore: personal narrative, realistic narrative, descriptive writing, and persuasive writing.

Spelling
Weekly tests are given each Wednesday and Friday, based on twenty words from the spelling book and five review words from that unit. Students should be studying for tests at home. An overall spelling grade is given based on the average of spelling tests and spelling book work. An effort grade is also given.

Handwriting
The biggest emphasis will be on neatness, forming letters in cursive correctly, and trying to improve on daily written assignments.