Mrs. Michele Africano, 5th Grade

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Visit the TeacherWeb® videos to learn about the features, modifications, and customizations available on your website. Click here to learn more. Announcements small medium large VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - HELP! HELP! HELP! HELP! There is always a need for classroom volunteers. If you have the time and would like to feel more directly involved, please fill out the volunteer opportunities form. I could especially use some help organizing all the many returned forms next Monday. If you can assist, please let me know immediately. VOLUNTEER LIST NEEDS Mrs. Africano's Room 51 Volunteers Carnival Booth- Health Week- Yearbook- Room Parents' Team Costume Sprucing- Scholastic Book Orders- Carnival Extra Hands- Book Faire- Filing- Photographer for Class- Clean-Up Mother Earth Meet the Master Art Lab - Crafts - Technology/Librarian Assistant - Typing Program Introduction Coordinator Library Garden Maintenance Literature Circle or Math Club- ANYONE W/ FORM 1 WELLNESS POLICY Important points to remember about the wellness policy: - Food cannot be used as a reward - Three parties per year, no more. - Parties must be after lunch. - Only one non-healthy treat item at a party. - No edible birthday treats, even at lunch time or recess. - Curriculum items that include food do not constitute a party or a violation of policy. Examples: gingerbread man in K, eating California in 4th, using a chocolate chip walnut cookie to demonstrate earth's strata. I think these are limited to two. Let me know if I need to find out. - Parents may send whatever they want for their own child to eat, but they may not send treats for other children. - We may have a lunch/breakfast event with students in our class as long as it is healthy and it is not a reward for anything. BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT OUTLINE ABOUT MRS. AFRICANO: - Grew up in Los Angeles - Bachelor of Arts Degree: English, emphasis British Literature (UCLA, University of Puerto Rico, Cal Berkeley,Mt. Diablo College, San Diego State, Saddleback College, UC Irvine!) - Teaching Credential (UCI 1978) - Family of teachers - 28th year teaching (high school, middle school and elementary) - Lived in Puerto Rico, Holland and travelled to 43 countries - Wanted to be a teacher very early - Married 49 years: four children and seven grandchildren HOMEWORK: - Organization is #1 - Accountability and Responsibility - Planners are used daily - Homework folders (Friday folders) - Please check homework and SIGN FOLDER - AR books - library and AR tests - No Late Homework - Consequences (Parent Bulletins and No Credit) - Grades are available online ONLINE HOMEWORK: - Study Island - Typing Program - Spelling City - Haiku Teacher website can provide extra information SCHEDULE: Demanding 5th grade curriculum - P.E. with specialist and with Mrs. Anderson (two fifty minute sessions per week) - Science and Social Studies - HANDS ON - Daily Planners - Homework - Large class size - Depth and Complexity skills LITERATURE: - Indian in the Cupboard (Class has already completed this wonderful book.) - Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare - Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone - The Fighting Ground, Guns for General Washington, Johnny Tremain, and The Witch of Blackbird Pond are provided but may not be marked. - Literature Circles (a possibility) WRITING: -nonfictiona -personal narrative -fictional narrative -persuasive -research MATH: - Place Value, multiplication division (whole numbers and decimals), fractions (add, subtract, multiply, divide), algebra, measurement, graphs, data and statistics, geometry, percents, and much more. SOCIAL STUDIES – United States - Native American Cultures - Exploration - European Settlers - Colonization - Commerce and Taxation Hostilities - The American Revolution - The Declaration of Independence - The Constitution SCIENCE: - Solar Systems - Plant and Human Systems - Water/Weather - Physical Science - Field Study in May -Trabuco Canyon TECHNOLOGY: - Word Documents - PowerPoint (Health Presentation) - Research (Health Presentation) - Haiku - Online Links DEPTH AND COMPLEXITY: - Used in all content areas - Posted on classroom wall - Students become familiar with these icons through use GRADING AND REPORT CARDS: Gradebook (available online) - homework assignments - projects - tests and quizzes - class assignments - oral presentations/participation Report Cards reflect the online scores ACCELERATED READER: - Computer based program - Appropriate reading level books at difficulty level based on pretest online, next week - Individual student reading progress data will be available FIELD TRIPS: - To be determined later PARTICIPATING IN THE CLASSROOM ROOM 51 NEEDS YOU! - Sharing hobbies and career paths - Lots of curriculum based activities and planning - Lots of filing, xeroxing, activity preparation - Lots of taping water color paper on cardboard - Library Garden maintenance - Play production, Field Trips, Money Management - Technology assistance …. and so much more A VOLUNTEER 1 FORM WITH CA LICENSE OR PASSPORT IS MANDATED CONTACT INFORMATION: School: (949) 888-7311 Email: africanom@svusd.k12.ca.us Website: http://www.svusd.org -find my name listed under staff/teachers -check periodically for announcements Thank you for visiting our classroom! Come anytime! Dear Families, Welcome to Room 51's, 5th grade class. We are off to a terrific beginning of what I know will be a rewarding, productive, and exciting year. I look forward to the opportunity of working with all of you. I will do my best to make sure each student will be provided with the experiences needed for a successful year. My intention is to merge key concepts, which will help tie together curriculum strands and themes throughout the year. In this way, meaningful connections can be made to information introduced in previous years. Through Project Based Learning,students will stand a better chance of remembering information, and practice applying it in new situations. Naturally the more students become actively engaged in learning, the more they will remember and want to continue to learn. Expect a whirlwind! In order for all this to happen there must be an orderly classroom atmosphere; therefore, we will spend time clarifying expectations and standards. It is my hope that students will strive to be problem solvers, choose to believe in themselves, and view other students with an open mind and an open heart. Since 5th grade is our year for American History, our class will often actively redefine the meaning of ï¿½The Common Goodï¿½ in establishing Room 51ï¿½s community atmosphere. In order to accomplish the above goals I will stress these objectives: ï¿½ Maintain a positive classroom atmosphere ï¿½ Provide ample communication ï¿½ Encourage respect and caring for one another ï¿½ Expect academic responsibility for short and long term assignments ï¿½ Expect personal responsibility for study habits such as neatness and pride in oneï¿½s work and following directions as well as a balanced use of time in school and at home, SPECIAL AWAY ACTIVITIES We enjoy a science field studies trip in Trabuco Canyon in May. It is organized by The Fifth Grade Team. This science experience, which is two days, isvery informative,a good deal of fun, and a wonderful way to prepare for the state science test. Other field trip information will soon be forthcoming. LITERATURE CIRCLE (May not be possible with the shortened school year) Two days a week, students read in small groups with adult leaders. Traditionally, these circles usually take place after lunch. It is not necessary for our leaders to come both days, but over the years, we have had five or six adult leaders per session. Words cannot adequately describe how much the children get out of Literature Circle, just taking turns reading aloud and discussing the passages. I hope that many of you will take part. One last word...anyone - grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles, aunts, moms, dads, who cannot regularly make Literature Circle, but have a particular day off,during the school year, then please feel welcome to come by and read with the kids. Itï¿½s really fun!Please stop by the office and sign in every time you come to volunteer. MATH BENCHMARKS If your child has not mastered the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division tables through the twelves, please make practice a priority at home. We will be testing regularly, at school. Flash card drill and computer math game sites are helpful tools. Fifth and sixth grade math involve new concepts each day. In order for students to be able to focus on the concepts, they need to be free of the need to stop for an arithmetic problem. REQUIRED SUPPLIES 3-ring 1ï¿½ binder w/clear cover (no other kinds of binders, please - ONE INCH BINDER) 1 box of Kleenex 2 packages of dividers notebook paper 3-5 sharpened pencils large eraser ruler showing metric & inches 2 ball point pens (blue or black) backpack JUMBO fabric book covers for hard bound books sock (to erase white board entries and store markers) glue stick or glue dark color dry erase marker box of crayons (small) 3-ring binder pencil holder for moving between classes (PROVIDED) white boards (PROVIDED) *I will provide studentsï¿½ portable white boards and boxes for their pens, pencils, and art supplies, that will fit the cubbies that they will be using all year. There simply is not enough room for the boxes in a 5th graderï¿½s desk. I will also provide binder pencil holders. STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS EVERY DAY. FIFTH GRADERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CALL HOME FOR "STUFF" THEY FORGOT, AND PARENTS MAY NOT DELIVER FORGOTTEN "STUFF". ALL 5TH GRADE TEACHERS AGREE ON THIS POLICY IN ORDER TO PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITY. CLASSROOM STANDARDS 1. SUPPLIES: The supplies for our class are listed above. As the year progresses, please replace any lost or ï¿½used upï¿½ items. 2. BOOKS: All hardbound books must be covered and labeled with the subject, the student's name and room number. Please do not use the type of covers that when removed leave a sticky residue. Students must have all books in class and are responsible for the condition of the books assigned to them. Lost or improperly covered books will need to be paid for so they can be replaced. 3. HOMEWORK: Homework consists of a continuation of the daily class instruction. In Saddleback Valley School District, fifth and sixth graders are expected to have 60 minutes of homework each night. Thirty minutes, nightly, will be used for the At-Home Reading Program. (If your student tells you that he or she already did the necessary At-Home reading at school, please be sure to carefully review the definition of ï¿½AT-HOMEï¿½!) Second in utmost importance is 15 minutes of focused practice on TYPING PAL. I insist that students in my class learn how to properly use the keyboard. Technology as a tool, a form of communication and much more, is taking center stage. Without the advantage of proper keyboarding skills, students are at a great disadvantage. With classes growing ever larger, teachers are understandably needed some means of managing their paper loads. Consequently, they are expecting their students to turn in typed work. Students having to type without these skills or parents doing the typing for their students, are both a shameful waste of academic time. The time devoted to homework may vary, however, depending on the student's use of time, and use of skills will determine how long it takes to complete assignmentsin class and home. It is important for you and your student to know that NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED unless due to an excused absence. Missing assignments will have a major impact on students' grades. More importantly,homework serves as time for students to practice, allowing more time to internalize new concepts, which is extremely important for a successful year.Weekly Homework Assignment Sheets are made available the first school day ofeach week. Additionally, parents may see the same assignments on my website,under ï¿½Announcementsï¿½. 4. PARENT BULLETIN: When children have "forgotten" to do homework or return signed forms, or exhibit poor behavior, they will be issued a PARENT BULLETIN. This bulletin is sent home to be signed and returned the next day. If children receive two bulletins in a single week they are given a detention. Detentions are served on Tuesdays from 2:35 - 3:15 the following week. We instituted this system throughout the fifth and sixth grades to help students form the habit of completing work on time and behaving at school. 5. PUNCTUALITY AND PREPARATION: Please help your child arrive on time, each day, with all the necessary materials and supplies for the day. Tardiness delays and interrupts the education of all students in the classroom. Adequate sleep and a healthy breakfast for each child results in a more successful and happy day at school. School Safety Rules mandate that all children drop off their backpacks, and immediately go to the playground, remaining there until the line-up-bell rings. Arrival on campus is appropriate at 8:20 each morning. Students must wait at the lunch tables until 8:20. 6. ABSENCES: If students will be out of school, please contact the office as soon as possible. If necessary, requested homework may be picked up in the school office at the end of the day or picked up by a friend or sibling. 7. PROGRESS REPORTS: Progress Reports will be available online. Families may view student grades online, any time after the first three weeks of school. 8. GRADING STANDARD: Each student's grades will be determined by daily work, some homework, and quizzes and tests. Test grades and long term assignments are given more weight than other assignments. On daily work I use a percentage grade system. Below is the approximate scale: 90-100 A 80-90 B 70-80 C 60-70 D Below 60 F 9. FAMILY COMMUNICATION: The website will give you all you could ever imagine reading... every day of the school year. I also ask that you send an email address where last minute updates can be posted, or where teacher, parent or student may contact me at any time. Please feel free to email me at any point in the school year. Students are always welcome to email me,as well. 10. FRIDAY TAKE HOME FOLDERS: Graded work assignments are saved and ï¿½most oftenï¿½ sent home weekly on Fridays. The folder needs to be signed, dated and sent back on Mondays. Please look over the work with your child and KEEP the work at home, returning just the signed folder unless otherwise specified. Please read over the information in and on the Friday Folder. 11. SCHOOL MAINTENANCE: Why can't we eat our snacks right outside our room? School rules dictate that all eating and drinking happens at the lunch tables. Recess and Lunch Supervisors get testy about the 1,000,000th time they ask students to obey the school rules. Snack packages and wrappers end up all over the campus, and blow right onto our Room 51 "front porch". Ants decide it's party time and gather in places where they are a pain in the neck. Then cans of Raid start appearing and Mrs. Africano turns into The Screaming Green Maniac from Tree Hugger Central. These are not good things. Be aware! Students will have a 15 minute snack time during their morning recess. Fifth grade teachers highly encourage students to bring a healthy snack so that they may keep up their energy level until lunchtime, which isn't until 1:05. School rules mandate that students wait to begin opening their snacks or their lunches, until they get to their assigned lunch tables. This rule has true merit when we consider that 2,400+ snacks and lunches means the potential exists for a whole lot of trash ending up all over the campus. 12. THE COMMON GOOD JAR: Students earn COMMON GOOD chips that go into ï¿½The Common Good Timeï¿½ jar. Students catch my mistakes, such as a document errors, or do something particularly praise-worthy, and fill the jar. They earn every chip! When the jar is full this year,I will help students and parents build some amazing structures at our very own sand castle beach party, on the shore. 13. AT-HOME READING, once again: Students are expected to read at least 1 1/2hours a week at home. Books should be novels, fiction or nonfiction, of their own choosing. A weekly form needs to be completed, totaled, signed, and returned on the last school day of each month, for now. Their performance on this program will be averaged into their language arts grade. If students choose AR books, they'll be earning their needed comprehension points as well. I strongly suggest that students choose books from the AR (Accelerated Reading)list. Of course, the books must be within their individual lexile range for credit - not too high and not too low. If there are any questions or concerns please feel free to email me through the district web or home website. I'm looking forward to meeting each of you at Back-to-School Night,and am excited about our 5th grade program. Our staff is looking forward to a great year. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in filling out the seemingly endless stack of forms. Sincerely, Mrs.Africano Please send an email to africanom@cox.net as soon as possible. If you want class announcements or individual notes to go to more than one address, thatï¿½s fine. Automatically clean input to optimize for the web. Or, would you like to view and optionally restore one of these previous versions? Password: Forgot your password?

Mrs. Michele Africano, 5th Grade

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