Welcome to Fifth Grade. It is a pleasure to greet so many familiar faces and it is a definite advantage to start the year knowing so many of my students. Fifth Grade is in many ways a continuation of Fourth Grade with more breadth and depth and higher expectations. You will see writing and reading skills develop dramatically. In addition to writing good paragraphs we will be writing essays and short reports. Study skills should fall into place this year and independence will increase. Fifth Graders learn to disagree agreeably and to appreciate input from peers. Working productively in a group is important.
Fifth Graders take three state tests. A social studies test is given in November. ELA (English Language Arts) in January, and mathematics in March. These tests cover content and skills from Kindergarten through Fourth Grade. The students will be familiar with the form and procedure by the time they take the tests.
New to Fifth Grade is the opportunity to enter the MOST Science Fair in April. Even though it is usually close to Passover and our own SHDS school drama production, many students choose to participate. We start early and take the procedures step by step. Time management skills are honed in Fifth Grade!
AlphaSmarts, individual work processors are available for all Fifth Graders. They will be required to keyboard for their spelling tests and their vocabulary sentences. As keyboarding proficiency increases, usage increases.
I am looking forward to working together with parents to encourage and support our Fifth Graders in their growth and development this year. When you have concerns, please leave a message in the office and I will get back to you as soon as possible, or drop me an email at mrskoss@shds.org.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Koss