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Fifth Grade Teachers Chatboard

fifth grade

by fifth grade newbie

Jul 18, 2011

I have been in the lower grades my entire career(11 years). This year I will be in fifth grade and REALLY nervous. I can jump into a first or second grade classroom and the ideas are endless. Having a child myself that just finished fifth grade, I know that this will be a completely different kind of year! I want to give these kids a year like none that they have ever had and I want that to be the impression that the kids and parents get when they walk in the room during Open House. Do I start with coming up with a theme? We will be departmentalized.

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ny/5 5th graders have a very strong sense of fairness and are just developing their independence. Yes, they start feeling their oats around March, but you can use that to your advantage. I treat the disrespectful ones with extra respect, then remind them that they're behavior is not appreciated, reciprocated or tolerated. Assertive communication works v...See More5th graders have a very strong sense of fairness and are just developing their independence. Yes, they start feeling their oats around March, but you can use that to your advantage. I treat the disrespectful ones with extra respect, then remind them that they're behavior is not appreciated, reciprocated or tolerated. Assertive communication works very well at this age, and when it doesn't... most of them are still afraid of their parents :) and a simple phone call home often nips it in the bud.

On 7/24/11, Dm wrote: > I'm curious if you see the same? I really enjoy 5th graders too. > Around march however, a handful of them start becoming really > disrespectful. By the end if the year, even more more students. > Do you see this? That's why I'll never teach 6th! > > > > > > > > n 7/23/11, ny/5 wrote: >> Fifth graders are awesome! If you want them to have a great >> year, just keep them very active -- and get lots of sleep >> yourself because they have tons of energy. I've been teaching >> the upper grades (5th and 6th) for 13 years now, and it never >> has even occurred to me to start with a theme. I always start >> with policies, procedures and expectations -- integrated with >> ice breaking, getting to know you activities. We also spend a >> lot of the first days organizing -- assigning color coded >> folders for each subject, writing the names of the subjects on >> the sides of the notebooks (the part you see when you look into >> the desk) so they don't grab the wrong notebook or folder when >> going to class. Assume nothing and teach everything -- i.e. >> how and when to sharpen a pencil, how to raise your hand, >> appropriate times and procedures for using the bathroom, how to >> write a proper heading, etc. I get a writing sample right off >> the bat by having the students write a letter to me -- I give >> them very specific directions as well as a rubric. I take >> first day pictures, print off 2 copies, cut them out, laminate >> them and use one set to make a homework bulletin board >> (laminated paper with their picture and a paper clip, to hang >> h.w.) and the other I make magnets out of for the white board >> -- there are endless uses for these (reading groups, science >> partners, writer's workshop stages, just to name a few). Use >> the first few days to teach them productive and educational >> things to do when they finish their work early (math games, >> websites, handwriting practice, silent reading, how to select a >> book that's at their independent reading level.) >> If you'd like to work together to plan the first three days, >> just let me know and post your email address. Good luck!

Jul 24, 2011

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TX/5&6 I am in a self-contained classroom of 5th/6th graders at a small school. I would like to work with you too to plan the first 3 days of school. Thanks again!

On 7/23/11, ny/5 wrote: > Fifth graders are awesome! If you want them to have a great > year, just keep them very active -- and get lots of sleep > yourself because they have ...See More

Jul 26, 2011

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fifth grade newbie I think I wasn't clear about my question about themes. I was referring to room decor. Should I come up with a theme (for example, in first grade one of the teachers had a cowboy theme so her room had lots of cowboy/western things in it to decorate). I honestly don't know where to begin since we will rotating through three classrooms.

On 7...See MoreI think I wasn't clear about my question about themes. I was referring to room decor. Should I come up with a theme (for example, in first grade one of the teachers had a cowboy theme so her room had lots of cowboy/western things in it to decorate). I honestly don't know where to begin since we will rotating through three classrooms.

On 7/23/11, ny/5 wrote: > Fifth graders are awesome! If you want them to have a great > year, just keep them very active -- and get lots of sleep > yourself because they have tons of energy. I've been teaching > the upper grades (5th and 6th) for 13 years now, and it never > has even occurred to me to start with a theme. I always start > with policies, procedures and expectations -- integrated with > ice breaking, getting to know you activities. We also spend a > lot of the first days organizing -- assigning color coded > folders for each subject, writing the names of the subjects on > the sides of the notebooks (the part you see when you look into > the desk) so they don't grab the wrong notebook or folder when > going to class. Assume nothing and teach everything -- i.e. > how and when to sharpen a pencil, how to raise your hand, > appropriate times and procedures for using the bathroom, how to > write a proper heading, etc. I get a writing sample right off > the bat by having the students write a letter to me -- I give > them very specific directions as well as a rubric. I take > first day pictures, print off 2 copies, cut them out, laminate > them and use one set to make a homework bulletin board > (laminated paper with their picture and a paper clip, to hang > h.w.) and the other I make magnets out of for the white board > -- there are endless uses for these (reading groups, science > partners, writer's workshop stages, just to name a few). Use > the first few days to teach them productive and educational > things to do when they finish their work early (math games, > websites, handwriting practice, silent reading, how to select a > book that's at their independent reading level.) > If you'd like to work together to plan the first three days, > just let me know and post your email address. Good luck!

Jul 28, 2011

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Julie Fifth graders would probably like themes like rock stars, planet of the fifth graders (a teacher at my school did this with the solar system), magic/wizardry, pirates. My classroom's theme is America to tie in with fifth grade social studies (American History).

On 7/18/11, fifth grade newbie wrote: > I have been in the lower grades my ...See More

Jul 29, 2011

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ny/5 I would say, no, it's not necessary to come up with a theme, but you can if you want to. My room is decorated with things they need to see in order to be successful: maps, cursive handwriting, word wall of new vocabulary, decimal squares (tenths, hundredths, thousandths), Posters on "How to Select a Book that is Just Right for You", motivational po...See More

Jul 29, 2011

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