Religion
In fifth-grade Religion class, we continue to learn about our faith and strengthen our relationship with the Lord. Our focus is on a study of the Mass and the Sacraments. Each month the students memorize a prayer. These prayers help the students to more fully participate in the Mass and assist in the continued development of a rich prayer life emphasizing regular conversation with God.
Language Arts & Reading
In Reading, we explore different genres and themes in literature. We use the Voyages text by MacGraw Hill. We explore different reading strategies through read-aloud grade level novels. Students learn to look at stories with both a critical view from a writing standpoint and with an eye for choosing grade and level appropriate novels for enjoyment. We do both traditional book reports and engage in one-to-one reading conferences with the teacher.
Reading and Writing go hand in hand, so we will often overlap our writing practice with our novel studies. Using the Voyages text by Loyola Press, we start to foster a deeper understanding of parts of speech and grammar terms in isolation. We apply this knowledge directly into our Writer’s Workshop, which uses the 6 Traits of Effective Writing, plus the Six Steps to Publishing.
Mathematics
In Math, our fifth–graders are exposed to both classical and contemporary instruction. We focus on computation as well as concepts. The focus on computation helps our students complete the higher math applications more smoothly. Through the year we have a strong focus on the concepts of fractions and decimals. We also review our math skills with daily practice to ensure the students master these important concepts
Science
We follow the Next Generation Science Standards to adequately prepare our students for middle school. We work on physical science, Earth/space science, life science, and engineering. The students complete several projects through the year to help reinforce the units of study. We also have daily practice books that help our students review topics previously covered to ensure that these key concepts are in the student’s long-term memory.
Social Studies
In Social Studies, fifth grade covers United States history from the early 1800’s up to, but not including, World War I. Students will practice note taking, outlining, and other study and test-taking skills, as Social Studies, provides the perfect platform for these skills.
Technology
Our fifth graders are 1:1 with technology and each student has their own Google Chromebook. Throughout each school week, they use it to conduct research, practice note-taking skills and create presentations that allow them to combine their writing and oral presentation skills with a creative technology component. We reinforce digital citizenship through student collaboration on projects, and they use the Google Classroom to allow for effective communication on mini projects and class assignments.
