Welcome to Murdock's fifth grade. We look forward to working with you this year!

Curriculum:
The fifth grade curriculum contains a tremendous amount of content, including US History from the Civil War to the present; matter, including the periodic table; and the classification of organisms, to name just a few.

We believe that children learn through doing.  Practice of skills, while immersed in a rich and stimulating environment, motivates a child to achieve. Research shows us that skills taught in isolation are not used as consistently or as effectively as skills taught when children are reading, writing, and doing in an integrated curriculum.  The goal of learning the required fifth grade content, while involved in real reading and writing experiences is the scaffolding we use for creating the themes and activities for the year.  Using research as the primary means of inquiry, children will be involved (as groups, partners, and individuals) in language activities, using reading, writing, and listening skills in context, throughout the year.  We will learn through language, while learning about language.

 Improving the children’s written expression is a school goal for this year. The 6-trait writing model is a way to assess and teach writing. This model focuses on 6 qualities seen in outstanding written works. The six traits include:

Ideas: The content, or main theme. Can be looked at as the heart of the message.

Organization: The internal structure of the writing.

Voice: The personal voice of author comes through. This gives a sense of a real person speaking.

Word Choice: The use of precise, colorful and rich words to communicate.

Sentence Fluency: The writing flows together often with a rhythm or cadence.

Conventions: Mechanical correctness, including spelling and grammar.

The spelling program is based on a series of highly used words.  These words are referred to as high frequency words.  They are used as a base, because they are the words most often written by children and adults.  For example, the first 100 words is approximately 68% of the total words used in a student’s writing.  These high frequency words are in two groups.  Each grade has a section of high frequency words (Core Words) that are used to teach skills, the logic of language, and to introduce the students to hundreds of additional words.   The highest frequency words (Priority Words) are the words we hold the students accountable for every time they write.  In the process of checking these words, the students learn to proofread, which is a skill that carries over to all their writing.  It sets a minimum standard, and 100% accuracy is a prerequisite for a top grade.  Students will be held accountable for spelling words correctly in their writing.  Further evaluation will be based on classroom activities. You may help your child proofread a paper using the Priority Word List, and monitor the independent word study for problematic words.

In math we will emphasize problem solving skills by studying a variety of problem solving strategies, and utilizing cooperative learning, calculators, and computers, skills which can be transferred to all content areas. This year the fifth grade team at Murdock is participating in an enhanced math initiative. This program has been designed to challenge and meet the needs of all our students. At the beginning of each unit of study all students will be given a pre-test on the material to be covered. Students will be placed in classes based on one of three criteria:

* Demonstrating a mastery of the unit

* Demonstrating a strength in a majority of the skills in the unit

* Demonstrating weakness in a majority of skills in the unit.

Children will be placed in classes based on their performance on each pre-test. Students who demonstrate a mastery of skills in a particular unit will "compact out". This means the curriculum will be condensed and extension activities will be provided. Children who demonstrate a strength in the unit will be given an opportunity to master the skills and extend their knowledge. Students with weaknesses in the unit will have an opportunity to work in a class with smaller numbers. This will entail students changing classes for math. Your child will be moved depending on his/her performance on the unit pre-test. The advantage of this program is the ability to meet each child at his or her developmental level for each unit.

 Further curriculum information, including the scope and sequence, can be found at the following link: http://picasso.cobbk12.org

Communications:
E-Mail -  Links to teacher e-mail addresses are found at the bottom of this web page. Please feel free to e-mail anytime with questions or information.  Normal response time is within the school day. A weekly e-mail is sent out on Thursdays or Fridays to parents describing the upcoming week.  Parents with no access to e-mail can request a hard copy of this e-mail to be sent home with their child.

E- Folder  - The E(evaluation)- Folder will contain the student’s weekly self evaluation.  It is extremely important that over the weekend the parent signs the E- Folder. Parents should also notice the packet of work and reminders inside the folder.

 Murdock Marquee -  The marquis is the sign in the front of the school which displays information about activities that are occurring.  It is important to drive/walk by the school on a regular basis, as it is updated weekly.

 The Murdock and Cobb County Web Pages – Please  use the links on this page to access these sites on a regular basis.

 Student Planner- The students planner should be filled out by the student daily.  It should be checked by a parent every night. Assignments not completed in school and specific homework assignments should be completed. 
 

Immunizations:
Please request an updated immunization form from your child's doctor or the  county health department as soon as possible that reflects the proper requirements for middle school.  Requirements are: 3 hepatitis B, 2 MMR’s, and 2 varicella (chicken pox – shot or proof of disease). The second varicella is new as of 2007, so all immunization records need updated. Prompt attention to this is appreciated.  To ensure your child’s records are forwarded to the middle schools for placement in classes, please update records immediately.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!

 Please do not make any appointments for your child on these days.  It is imperative that they are in school.

  ITBS Testing: September 22 - 29 , 2008

 5th Grade Musical:
       SetUp (Parent Volunteers only): November 1, 2008 @ 10 am
       (actual performance): November 6, 2008 @ 6:30 pm

Conference Week: January 26 - 30, 2009
                           Students dismissed @ 12:30 pm

 Georgia Writing Assessment: March 4, 2009

 CRCT - 5th graders have to pass the math and reading sections to move onto   6th grade: April 21 - May 1, 2009

 Extended Day Field Trip to The Little White House and the Civil War Naval Museum: May 8, 2008 (6:30 am - 6:30 pm)

5th Grade Celebration Day (Parents arrive at 11:15AM.  Students are dismissed with parents approximately 1:30PM): May 22, 2009