Welcome to 5th Grade! I’m very happy to get to know your child this year. The information below tells a little about our class. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Mrs. Petrulsky’s 5th Grade Room 235 Parent Information 2017-2018
The best way to contact me is by email. I will reply to you within a day. I can meet with parents in person before and after school. I am here at 8:00 until 4:00 every day. Because time during the school day is for the students and their learning, I am not able to take phone calls or meet with parents during class time. Please send me an email to arrange an appointment.
Occasionally I will send home notes via email to keep you up to date on current class events.
What is 5th Grade All About?
Homework
Students will each be provided with a planner aka “agenda”. Students are held responsible for keeping track of their own homework assignments, knowing where they are, having their spelling list and so forth.
All assignments will be accepted for full credit if turned in on the due date. Half credit will be given for work turned in within the week it is due. Late work will be accepted after one week but will still be recorded as zero points in the grade book.
Your child should read 20 to 30 minutes each day. Students will have a reading log to complete daily. Thursday night, reading logs for that week should be signed by parents. Students turn in reading logs on Friday for credit. In addition to reading, students will typically have spelling and/or math homework. I try to keep homework limited to about an hour total, including reading time. On occasion, your child will have an IB or science project to work on.
There is generally no homework assigned on the weekend.
Grading-
Grades are typically updated by Tuesday each week to reflect the previous weeks assignments. Student grades will be based at least 80% on assessments. Homework is still expected to be completed nightly.
Absences- The day following an absence your child will need to take home all make-up work. When absent, students are still expected to read and complete a reading log daily. Reading logs are not exempted for absences or vacations. If your child will be gone for an extended period of time, please contact me as far in advance as possible so that I can gather work. Work needs to be completed and returned within one week.
Needed materials list
2017-2018
5th Grade RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES
(Please do not label supplies with names.
These will be divided and used by the class throughout the year.
Students are not allowed to have scissors, glue or permanent markers at their desks, they must be added to the community supply bins).
For a list of requested supplies, please see the Hawthorn Website, under Quick Links, Classroom Supplies, 5th Grade.
Class management
The first day of school we will be defining the school rules and the classroom rules. We will talk about what each rule means. Following this discussion, students will be held accountable for their behavior.
I use a “stop light system” to indicate behavior expectations to students during different learning activities. The red sign means students are to work quietly and independently (for example during a test). Yellow means students are to work with their assigned groups and stay on topic. Green means students may choose their own work or project as long as they are being productive and making responsible choices.
SCHOOL RULES
Be Safe
Be Positive
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be on-task
Class Rules:
Follow all directions the first time they are given.
Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.
Follow the Stop Light Signs.
Other Items
--Disposable water bottles may be brought to school. Please label them. Students are to refrain from making noise with the bottles.
--5th grade has a relatively late lunch each day at 12:35. You are welcome to send a healthy snack to tide your child over. Snack time normally will be right after morning recess. Please no candy or sweets. Also, please do not send snack items that have orange or red flavor powder on them such as Doritos or Taki's. The powder is hard to remove from hands, clothes and carpet.
--Toys and electronic devices are NOT TO BE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL. This includes Fidget items like spinners, play dough, slime, etc. This includes use at recess time, as students should be using their recess to be active. I do provide games and activities during the school week as a reward. Students need not bring games, as I have plenty of fun activities for them to do. Students should be using Class learning time for learning and play time for play.
*Exceptions to fidget policy will only be made for students who have an IEP or 504 plan that specific requires and allows students to have a fidget. Just because a student has an IEP does not mean a fidget will benefit them and can lead to more distraction than it prevents and can also be a distraction to others.
Cell phones carried for emergencies must remain OFF and in your child's backpack during school hours. They are not to be used or taken out during class, recess or lunch for any reason.
Mrs. Petrulsky’s 5th Grade Room 235 Parent Information 2017-2018
The best way to contact me is by email. I will reply to you within a day. I can meet with parents in person before and after school. I am here at 8:00 until 4:00 every day. Because time during the school day is for the students and their learning, I am not able to take phone calls or meet with parents during class time. Please send me an email to arrange an appointment.
Occasionally I will send home notes via email to keep you up to date on current class events.
What is 5th Grade All About?
- Reading – In 5th grade the focus shifts aggressively from learning to read, to reading to learn. We will use a variety of reading comprehension strategies and complete in depth reading logs
- Writing – 5-6 Paragraph Essays – We will use www.utahcompose.com to write narrative & informative pieces.
- Spelling – Spalding Program – tests on Fridays
- Math – MyMath program and Imagine Learning Math
- Science – Earth’s Landforms, Heredity, Electricity & Magnetism, & Matter
- Social Studies – U.S. History and Government
- Junior Achievement – Financial Literacy skills – JA Biztown!
- Specials – Spanish, Art, P.E., Library, Computers, Music
Homework
Students will each be provided with a planner aka “agenda”. Students are held responsible for keeping track of their own homework assignments, knowing where they are, having their spelling list and so forth.
All assignments will be accepted for full credit if turned in on the due date. Half credit will be given for work turned in within the week it is due. Late work will be accepted after one week but will still be recorded as zero points in the grade book.
Your child should read 20 to 30 minutes each day. Students will have a reading log to complete daily. Thursday night, reading logs for that week should be signed by parents. Students turn in reading logs on Friday for credit. In addition to reading, students will typically have spelling and/or math homework. I try to keep homework limited to about an hour total, including reading time. On occasion, your child will have an IB or science project to work on.
There is generally no homework assigned on the weekend.
Grading-
Grades are typically updated by Tuesday each week to reflect the previous weeks assignments. Student grades will be based at least 80% on assessments. Homework is still expected to be completed nightly.
Absences- The day following an absence your child will need to take home all make-up work. When absent, students are still expected to read and complete a reading log daily. Reading logs are not exempted for absences or vacations. If your child will be gone for an extended period of time, please contact me as far in advance as possible so that I can gather work. Work needs to be completed and returned within one week.
Needed materials list
2017-2018
5th Grade RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES
(Please do not label supplies with names.
These will be divided and used by the class throughout the year.
Students are not allowed to have scissors, glue or permanent markers at their desks, they must be added to the community supply bins).
For a list of requested supplies, please see the Hawthorn Website, under Quick Links, Classroom Supplies, 5th Grade.
Class management
The first day of school we will be defining the school rules and the classroom rules. We will talk about what each rule means. Following this discussion, students will be held accountable for their behavior.
I use a “stop light system” to indicate behavior expectations to students during different learning activities. The red sign means students are to work quietly and independently (for example during a test). Yellow means students are to work with their assigned groups and stay on topic. Green means students may choose their own work or project as long as they are being productive and making responsible choices.
SCHOOL RULES
Be Safe
Be Positive
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be on-task
Class Rules:
Follow all directions the first time they are given.
Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.
Follow the Stop Light Signs.
Other Items
--Disposable water bottles may be brought to school. Please label them. Students are to refrain from making noise with the bottles.
--5th grade has a relatively late lunch each day at 12:35. You are welcome to send a healthy snack to tide your child over. Snack time normally will be right after morning recess. Please no candy or sweets. Also, please do not send snack items that have orange or red flavor powder on them such as Doritos or Taki's. The powder is hard to remove from hands, clothes and carpet.
--Toys and electronic devices are NOT TO BE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL. This includes Fidget items like spinners, play dough, slime, etc. This includes use at recess time, as students should be using their recess to be active. I do provide games and activities during the school week as a reward. Students need not bring games, as I have plenty of fun activities for them to do. Students should be using Class learning time for learning and play time for play.
*Exceptions to fidget policy will only be made for students who have an IEP or 504 plan that specific requires and allows students to have a fidget. Just because a student has an IEP does not mean a fidget will benefit them and can lead to more distraction than it prevents and can also be a distraction to others.
Cell phones carried for emergencies must remain OFF and in your child's backpack during school hours. They are not to be used or taken out during class, recess or lunch for any reason.