5th Grade Parent Handbook

Mrs. Caitlin Potter

Welcome to 5th Grade at West Ridge Academy! I am looking forward to a wonderful
year together here at WRA. Here is a handbook to give you a glimpse of what 5 th
grade will look like for your child this year. We will go through all of this at Backto-School Night, but I would like to address any preliminary questions you may have
in the meantime.
Our Weekly Schedule:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

8:15-8:30
Morning Work,
Morning Routine

8:15-8:30
Morning Work,
Morning Routine

8:15-8:30
Morning Work,
Morning Routine

8:15-8:30
Morning Work,
Morning Routine

8:15-8:30 Morning
Work, Morning Routine

8:30-9:00
Whole-Group Math

8:30-10:00
Language Arts

8:30-9:00
Whole-Group Math

8:30-10:00
Language Arts

8:30-9:00 WholeGroup Math

10:00-10:10
Brain Break
10:10-11:20
Math

9:00-9:45 Math
& Band
9:45-10:15
Computer Lab
10:15-10:45
Latin

9:00-9:45 Math
& Band
9:45-10:15
Language Arts
10:15-10:45
Latin
10:45-11:20
Language Arts

10:00-10:10
Brain Break
10:10-11:20
Math

10:45-11:20
Science/Social
Studies

9:00-9:45 Math &

Band
9:45-10:15
Language Arts
10:15-10:45 Latin
10:45-11:20 Class
Meeting/Goal
Setting/Character
Discussion

11:25-12:00
Lunch & Recess

11:25-12:00
Lunch & Recess

11:25-12:00
Lunch & Recess

11:25-12:00
Lunch & Recess

11:25-12:00 Lunch
& Recess

12:00-12:30
Silent Reading/AR &
Read-Aloud

12:00-12:30
Silent Reading/AR &
Read-Aloud

12:00-12:30
Silent Reading/AR &
Read-Aloud

12:00-12:30
Silent Reading/AR &
Read-Aloud

12:00-12:30 Silent
Reading/AR & ReadAloud

12:30-1:15 Math
& Choir

12:30-1:25
Science/Social
Studies

12:30-1:15 Math
& Choir

12:30-1:25
Science/Social
Studies

12:30-1:15 Math &

Choir

1:15-1:30
Journal Writing &
Snack
1:30-2:00
P.E.
2:00-2:45 Music
2:45-3:25
Science/Social
Studies
3:25-3:30 End of
the Day Routine

1:25-1:30 Snack
1:30-2:00
P.E.

1:15-1:30
Journal Writing &
Snack
1:30-2:00
P.E.

2:00-2:45
Art
2:45-3:25
Centers

2:00-3:25
Language Arts

3:25-3:30 End of
the Day Routine

3:25-3:30 End of
the Day Routine

1:25-1:30 Snack

1:15-1:30 Journal
Writing & Snack

1:30-2:00
P.E.

1:30-2:00
P.E.

2:00-2:45 Music

2:00-2:45
Art
2:45-3:25
Science/Social Studies

2:45-3:25
Centers

3:25-3:30 End of
the Day Routine

3:25-3:30 End of
the Day Routine

I believe education is reliant on teamwork - Students, parents, and teachers need

to establish a strong and meaningful relationship in order to set, obtain, and exceed
goals within the classroom. Nobody is an expert on each of my students like their
parents are. I will rely on you to help me be the best teacher I can be for your
child and I expect you to rely on me to fulfill your expectations this academic year.
I am all about communication! If your child is having a bad day and you think I need
to be aware before the morning starts, please dont hesitate to contact me. As
Helen Keller once said, Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.
Contact Information
I am available to talk Monday-Friday before school (7:45-8:05) or afterschool
(3:30-4:00). The best way to contact me is via email: cpotter@wrak8.org
I will always do my best to respond to your email within 24 hours Monday-Friday. If
you would prefer to speak on the phone, please call the front office and they will
direct your call to my classroom. I do not have a voicemail available on my phone so
you may leave a message with the front office. I also have a website that I will
update periodically below is the link to the website. Here, you can find our class
curriculum map, in addition to unit organizers describing what we are studying in
each unit and the standards that are being covered. I believe it is essential for
parents to be actively involved in their childs learning. I would be glad to answer
any questions you may have about the content I will be covering this year.
www.mrspotters5thgrade.weebly.com
Friday Folders
I will be sending home a weekly newsletter in students Friday folders each week.
This newsletter will include information from our week at school, reminders for
upcoming weeks, and information regarding the content we are covering in the
classroom. It is important that you read these letters each week. I will also be
sending home all of their graded work each week.

Parent Volunteers
I absolutely love having parents help in the classroom! Please feel free to come in
and help us whenever you are available. I have an open-door policy and believe it
takes a village to educate a child! You are always welcome in our classroom. I will be
sending home questionnaires in each students Friday folder during the first week
so you can tell me your availability and willingness to help in the classroom.

Agendas
We will be writing ALL homework in agendas every day. I will sign each students
agenda after they have written down their homework to ensure they have written
down all of the assignments. Please sign or initial their agenda AFTER all of their
assignments have been completed for that evening. It is your childs responsibility
to get their agenda signed by you. Agendas can also be used as a communication tool
between you and me since I will be checking them daily. I will check them every
morning to make sure they were signed by you. I do not allow children to blame
their parents for forgetting to sign their agenda. It is their responsibility to ask
you to sign it once they have completed all homework.
Interactive Notebooks and Folders
Each student has 5 composition notebooks that will be used daily in each subject.
These composition notebooks are for Math, Social Studies, Science, Writing
Journal, and Language Arts (grammar, word work). These will be used as
Interactive Notebooks in each subject. Interactive Notebooks allow for creativity,
independence, reflection, and accountability. Students will be adding to their
interactive notebooks all year. These will include reading passages, tables and
graphs, pictures, assignments, reflection sheets, notes, examples, questions,
predictions/inferences, and other tools that will assist in students understanding
of the content we are learning in class. Interactive Notebooking is researched to
be a successful way to improve student learning. These notebooks provide a way for
students to organize, remember, and review their own thinking, while connecting
and synthesizing what they are learning. Students also have a pocket folder for
each subject, in addition to a homework folder and a Friday folder. Homework
folders should go home on a nightly basis and return to school the following
morning. Friday folders will be sent home every Friday and should return every
Monday.
Homework and Assignments:
Students will be receiving homework on a nightly basis to assist in mastery of the
content we are studying in class. This will help them understand the importance of
time management and will adequately prepare them for subsequent grades. You
should expect between 45-60 minutes of homework each night. In addition to
nightly homework, students are also expected to complete a reading log every week.
I expect students to read for a minimum of 100 minutes each week. I will send
reading logs home on Mondays and they will be due the following Monday your
child may disperse their reading time as they see fit. If students are unable to
read during the week, they may catch up on their reading over the weekend. I will

often give students time to begin their math in class, but this is not always the case
(especially with more difficult concepts that require more teaching). Sometimes,
they may complete their math assignments in class. I like to be available while they
are completing their homework to answer any questions they may have relating to
new content. Please know that I understand the fact that sometimes, life just gets
in the way! If you ever have something arise that conflicts with homework, I
understand. Please just communicate this with me and keep me informed.
Late, Make-Up, and Corrected Work:
If an assignment is late, 10% will be taken off for each day it is late. After five
days have passed, the assignment will no longer be accepted. If a student is absent,
they have the total number of days they were absent to make-up the assignment
for full-credit. If a student is absent on a Tuesday but returns to school on
Wednesday, their make-up work would be due on Thursday. Students may correct
assignments (with the exception of tests) by Monday to receive a higher grade.
Since graded work will always be sent home in students Friday Folders, this gives
them the option to spend time over the weekend to correct their work. If the
assignment is corrected and returned on Monday, the students final grade for the
assignment would be an average of their original score and their corrected score. I
believe students should have the opportunity to correct an assignment to help them
further grasp the concept. This is not a requirement. If students are satisfied with
low grades, that is their prerogative. However, WRA expects students to have
passing grades to demonstrate readiness for subsequent grades.
Assessments
Students will be assessed on the content they will be learning in class. This is a way
for me to ensure students understand and master the concepts we are studying.
They will have a math test after each section (every 10-12 lessons). They will also
have social studies/science tests after units are taught. Occasionally, I will allow
students to use their interactive notebooks during the test so they can reference
materials and notes they have taken throughout the unit (this is especially the case
for more difficult concepts). Students will have a spelling test each Friday and will
have unit tests after each unit in language arts.
Accelerated Reader (AR)
We take the STAR test three times per year to see what each students reading
level is. This helps them choose appropriate books for their reading level, and allows
me to monitor their growth throughout the year. Students are expected to take an
AR test after they finish each book. Please visit this website to gain additional

information about AR. I am also glad to answer any questions you may have about
this.
http://doc.renlearn.com/KMNet/R003985016GG79F2.pdf
Water Bottles and Snacks
Students are allowed to keep a water bottle on their desk at all times. I will make
sure they are sent home every Friday so they can be cleaned. Students can also
bring a snack to school every day. Great snack ideas include: fruit, granola bars,
nuts, crackers, fruit snacks, etc. I will give them an opportunity to eat their snack
in the afternoon.
Birthdays
For Birthdays, students may bring a treat in for the class at lunchtime (11:25) or at
the end of the school day (3:15). For students who have a Birthday during the
summer, we can celebrate them on their half-Birthday, so that each student gets
the chance to be celebrated during the school year. Please let me know a few days
in advance if youre bringing in treats so I can plan accordingly.
Clip Chart, Class Dojo
I will be using a clip chart in my classroom this year to help monitor students
behavior. I expect students to behave in my classroom and follow my expectations.
If my expectations are not followed, there will be consequences. My clip chart is as
follows:
Super Student
Great Job
Good Choices
Ready to Learn
Think About it
Teachers Choice
Parent Contact
Each child has a clothespin with their name on it and will begin each day on Ready
to Learn. Making good choices throughout the day will allow them to move up the
chart. Making poor choices will result in them moving down the chart. Students who
reach the categories above Ready to Learn will earn points that they can redeem
for fun rewards, including: sitting on a yoga ball for the day, fancy chair for the
day, lunch with the teacher and their friends in the classroom, shirt untucked in

the morning, etc. Students who go below Ready to Learn will face consequences
for their actions, including: filling out a THINK sheet that needs to be signed by
their parents, writing an apology letter, being removed from the classroom
temporarily, etc.
Class DOJO is an online program that I will use to keep track of students points.
Conveniently, it is also an APP that updates you instantaneously on your smartphone
or tablet. In addition to earning points for classroom behavior on the clip chart,
students can also earn points for getting their agendas signed, going above and
beyond, participating in class, or demonstrating great teamwork. Students can also
get points taken away for moving down on the clip chart, being disruptive, or not
getting their agenda signed. We will be writing all homework in agendas every day.
You can monitor your childs points from home so you always know how they are
doing in the classroom! I will send home an access code to you during the first week
of school to get you started.
Field Trips
We will need parent volunteers to drive and chaperone on field trips. We will be
going on two field trips this year. The first one will be to the Denver Museum of
Nature and Science, where we will attend a Sherlock Holmes Exhibition! The second
one will be toward the end of the year and is an overnight at the Denver Museum of
Nature and Science. Students will be expected to wear the field trip uniform
(khakis and a blue polo with WRA logo) on the first field trip. I will discuss dress
attire for the overnight when it gets closer.
I am looking forward to an AWESOME fifth grade year! Please email me with any
questions that arise between now and Back-to-School Night.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Potter