Classroom Assessment and Expectations

Writing grades include spelling, handwriting, grammar and major writing projects. Spelling consists of one unit per week with a test on Friday. The unit is assigned on Monday and due Thursday. The handwriting grade is the average of unannounced assessments and announced assessments. Grammar grades will be taken from our grammar program. There are usually two major writing assignments per grading period, these will be written entirely in class. Both Mrs. Cole and Mrs. White will teach and assess a major writing project once each grading period.  Mrs. White will teach and assess all other writing skills in room 211.

Reading grades will be taken from assessments of the stories read/discussed in the literature book, as well as special assignments (such as book reports, summaries, etc.) and tests over the expected reading of chapter books.  We will be working on story elements: plot, characters, setting, problems, events leading to the solution and solution.  The reading of three, teacher approved novels will be expected each grading period.  Completion dates will be assigned at the beginning of each grading period.  There will be some time allowed during class for the reading of these books, but most of it will be done as homework.  Students will be expected to take their independent reading home daily, and return with it the next day for class reading time.  It's best to start the books early so as not to have a major crunch at the end of the grading period.  Mrs. White will teach reading in room 211.

Science/Health assessment is based on daily work, quizzes, group work, class participation and behavior.  There will be experiments and hands on experiences, but there will also be reading, discussion and assignments based on the book content. There will be written tests that will include vocabulary, multiple choice, short answer and essay responses. Part of the science grade is based on how well each student interacts within their group (staying on task, participating, not bossing everyone around) and how well they behave and participate in class discussions. Science will be taught by Mrs. Cole in room 213.

Social Studies has been our most difficult subject. Students need to reread what is read and discussed in class and carefully complete all assignments to prepare for each chapter test. Students will know of a test at least two days in advance.  Geography skills are taught and geography worksheets are assigned periodically. Social Studies will be taught by Mrs. White in room 211.

Our math curriculum is called Everyday Math.  This  program includes a student resource book, study links (homework assignments), math journals (where we do most of our work in class and also contains homework assignments) and lots of active learning materials (math games, manipulatives). Class participation and attention is a must!! Timed math fact tests will be given each quarter, with a goal of 95% or better when given a 100 problem test that is 3 minutes long. A student that achieves that goal is considered a wizard in that area, with a goal of becoming a master wizard (a wizard in all four areas). Awards are placed on lockers for everyone to see. Quick recall of facts becomes more important as the math concepts become more difficult. Students should not be trying to remember what 7 times 8 is while the teacher is explaining the next step in the process. Please study math facts at home!  Assessments will be given for homework assignments, homework completion and tests.  Math will be taught by Mrs. Cole in room 213. 

Every subject has tests. Students will know at least two days in advance when there will be a test. Studying for tests is considered homework!

We do not try to assign homework a certain number of times a week, homework just happens. Yes, you can expect to have homework in 5th grade. As stated earlier, you will be required to read 3 books a grading period, you will have some time to read in class, but most of those books will need to be read at home, that's homework. There isn't enough time in the school day to teach everything we need to teach and allow you to complete it, besides the fact that everyone works at different speeds. Some of you will have very little homework, some of you will have homework almost every night. If you average more than one hour of homework a night, you need to let us know. You may have an hour sometimes, but not on a regular basis.  Homework organizers will be given to each student and are expected to be filled out daily.  This means all assignments should be written down and the organizer brought home every night.

WHEN YOU ARE ABSENT you are expected to make up your homework and turn it in.  Your teachers will write down your assignments and tape them to your locker.  It is best to ask someone to pick your homework up for you if you are absent, so that you can complete it and be up to date when you return to school.  An adult or other child can pick up your work for you, since the list of assignments are hanging on your locker (be sure to tell them to bring home the books from inside your locker that you need.  Any necessary worksheets will be stapled to the assignment list).

Grade cards and interims are created using a  computerized grading program called Progress Book. Progress Book lists the grades of individual assignments as well as an average for the current grading period. One feature you should take advantage of is the ability to access your child's grades at anytime online. You can also track your child's progress between interim's and grade cards in their data folders (see data folder info below).  Progress Book is currently being used in grades 3 - 12 in Ashland City Schools.

Data folders are a tool for parents to track their child's progress on a weekly basis.  Graded papers will be distributed EVERY Friday.  Students are required to put every graded paper in their data folder and bring it home for a parent to look through over the weekend (we require a signature each weekend so that we know students are showing parents the data folder).  Data folders will be "cleaned out" at school at the end of each grading period, please do not remove any papers from it at home (we sometimes collect to save or need to refer to papers in the data folder).

Lockers are new to 5th graders at Taft, students will keep all books and supplies in their locker.  Since they will spend one half of their day in Mrs. Cole's classroom and the other half of the day in Mrs. White's classroom, they are expected to bring all necessary supplies with them from their locker. 

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