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Mrs. Chapman Room 150 

Welcome to Mrs. Chapman's fifth grade class! August 16, 2017
 Dear Fifth Grade **Parents**,

Welcome to my website. Here you will find helpful information such as how to contact me, policies and procedures and background information on each subject. (See separate web pages).

I am looking forward to meeting your child and being your child's fifth grade teacher. Please contact me at any time with questions or concerns. Email is the best way to reach me. I believe in working as a team with parents to educate your child. The first step is for me to get to know your child and you are the expert on your child. I find it valuable to meet with parents early in the the school year. If you would like to set up a phone conference or face-to-face conference during the first 2 weeks of school, please let me know and I will get back to you. Please have your child read the "letter to students" below. If you are looking for a fun day trip for these last few weeks of summer, there are several places of interest that tie into our Social Studies curriculum, such as the Boston Freedom Trail, Paul Revere's house, the USS Constitution, Bunker Hill Monument, Plimoth Plantation and Sturbridge Village. These are all relevant to topics we discuss in 5th grade.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Mrs. Chapman, cchapman@cohassetk12.org

Dear Fifth Grade **Students,**   Welcome to a new school year! Our class, room 150, is located across from the back door to the music room and across from the boys' bathroom in the 4th grade hallway. It is the second class on the right. I am very excited to meet you and hear about how you spent your summer. Please come right to the classroom with your backpack, we will assign lockers at some point on the first day. Also, on the first day, we will have a discussion about a book you have read this summer, so please know the title and author of at least 1 book you have enjoyed recently. Additionally, bring with you a book you are currently reading. It is helpful (but not crucial) to bring your school supplies on the first day so we can set up our desks and label materials. Organization is a KEY skill we work on and practice every day in fifth grade. I am sure you have many questions, hopefully I have answered some of them below. Please email me if you have a question that I have not answered. I will be happy to respond!

__Frequently Asked Questions -__
1. "How much homework do we have in 5th grade?" 50 minutes of math and writing, plus 20 minutes of independent reading. I don't typically assign homework over the weekend, but, if you have late or missing work or are behind on a project or paper, then I would suggest you use the weekend to catch up. This doesn't happen too often.

2. "What time is lunch?" "When do we eat snack?" Typically, 5th grade goes to lunch at 11:30-11:50 and recess is 11:50-12:15. As long as the behavior in the cafeteria meets expectations, you can sit anywhere you like. Snack is usually between 9:30-10:00 and depends on the daily schedule.

3. "When do we have the specialists?" As soon as the schedule is made, I will post it on this website on the "Schedule" page. We will have PE twice a week, and art, music, computers and library once a week.Specialists will start on the first day of school.

4. "What do we have for field trips and activities?" Our field trips change from year to year, so they haven't been determined yet. A favorite 5th grade activity is participating in the circus, where you will learn circus acts and even have a chance to perform in a circus!

5. "What can I do to get ready for fifth grade?" If you haven't read as much as you would have liked to this summer, it's not too late! Pick up a book and read 20 minutes every day. This will help build up your "reading stamina" and you will have something to contribute to our discussion on the first day. Additionally, you can find a fun app or website to practice your math facts. Ten minutes daily will shake the cobwebs out of your "summer brain". Fifth grade math is much easier if you are fluent in your facts.

6. "What do we learn in fifth grade?" Math: adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing whole numbers, decimals, fractions; geometry, measurement Reading: We use Reading Street stories and your independent reading books to learn and practice comprehension skills to enjoy reading and become life long readers! Writing: We use "Empowering Writers" lessons and the writing process to write for a variety of purposes and audiences. This includes articles, essays, pamphlets, letters and one or two reports. Social Studies: Democracy, Explorers, Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, Columbus, Plymouth, Roanoke, Jamestown, 13 Colonies, American Revolution

7. "Who is our "switch" teacher?" This year we will be switching with Ms. Henry, who will teach science and math. We will switch 4 days each week.

8. "How can I earn a homework pass?" On your birthday, you get a homework pass.

__**September**__ Goals this month include introducing classroom routines and procedures as well as beginning instruction in all content areas. Community Building: getting to know each other, goal setting, class community Math: Unit 1 and fact fluency Reading: How to read independently and selecting just right books. ELA Theme: "How can reading change me?" Writing: Getting ideas down and the writing process Social Studies:Citizenship (2-3weeks); focus question: "What is a community? What are the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a community?"

__**School Supplies - Students**__ Hand-held pencil sharpener (the kind that contains the shavings) Blue and red pens square sticky notes 1 sturdy, 2 pocket folder with 3 hole punches ( this will go inside the boomerang binder for papers to and from school) 4 spiral notebooks, about 80-100 pages, wide ruled (red, green, blue, yellow) ( 1 subject) 2 composition notebooks (not spiral bound, the black & white marbled cover ones) 1 1/2" 3 ring binder for a "Boomerang" or "Take Home" binder (durable to last the year) Pencil case - soft sided with zipper closure. 2 cloth book covers set of colored pencils or box of crayons (optional) Scissors & glue stick (optional)  __**School Supplies - Class Donations**__ Boxes of Kleenex Rolls of paper towels Pop up disinfectant wipes Goldfish (individual packs) Mini water bottles