Grade 5 Curriculum Night 2012-13

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Grade 5 Curriculum Night August 28th, 2012


WELCOME TO Grade 5 at CIS!


The Grade 5 Team – 9 classes this year! 5-9EG 5-8LM 5-7SB 5-6MM 5-5ES 5-4JW 5-3AS 5-2KL 5-1KJ

Evan Gillis Lisa Miller Susan Bisby Mylene Marajas Liz Sarich John Wolf Aynsley Smith Karen Lloyd Kendra Jones


Technology *Log into: m.socrative.com. *Join Room # 993126  Integration approach  Using Macbook computers  Building skills  Online tools and Social networking  Digital Citizenship


Single Subject Teachers  Drama – Mr. Kevin Epp  Music – Mrs. Shanhong Hughes  Visual Art – Mrs. Lisa Little  P.E. – Mr. Xavier Mahdavian  French/Mandarin/E.L.L./Learning Support -Anca Toma, Annie Liu, Shawn Chen, -Bruce Caverly -Katelyn O’Rourke


Grade 5 Language B Language B – foreign language students who are in the mainstream classroom take. CIS offers Mandarin and French. MANDARIN • 6 teachers offering 5 different levels, from Beginner to Advanced/Near-Native FRENCH • 4 teachers offering 4 different levels, from Beginner to Advanced/Near-Native Assessment of Skills in both languages • Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing are assessed each term based on criteria which will be shared with students. Teaching Units • 4 units differentiated across the various levels of proficiency. Please obtain more details from your child’s Language B teacher, or from Ms Toma, Languages Learning Lead, at atoma@cis.edu.sg


English Language Learning ELL will help students to develop enthusiasm, confidence and the ability to use English in meaningful and relevant contexts. Focus on developing both written and oral language skills. Work in close collaboration with homeroom teachers to connect and reinforce vocabulary and concepts relating to classroom curriculum.


Programme of Inquiry (POI) 6 Themes – 1 Unit of Inquiry (UOI) for each:  Who We Are – The Brain and Learning (Grade 4 – Rights & Responsibilities)  Where We Are In Place and Time – Ancient Civilizations  How the World Works – Earth & Space  How We Organize Ourselves - Leadership  Sharing the Planet – Sustainability of Resources  How We Express Ourselves – Advertising Media


Units of Inquiry (UOI) *Through inquiry children gain essential knowledge and skills in science, social studies and technology. Use of concepts to guide questioning and inquiry Understanding how people think and learn can help us to become better learners. • •

Connection – How is it connected to other things? Reflection – How do we know?

Transdisciplinary skills - specific skills are focused on during each UOI – Thinking Skills and Self Management Skills


Open Minds Programme Learning Through Field Research  A site-based, 4 day programme of inquiry outside the classroom  All classes grade 4 – 6 participate in off-site, primary-based research during a selected UOI  The research conducted is integrated into the student’s studies back at school  Focuses on building student knowledge, with an emphasis on developing skills in thinking, observing, and analysing


*Sites are chosen which best support the inquiry

Four sites:  National University Singapore – Pottery exhibit  Asian Civilizations Museum – Artifacts from West Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, China  Chinatown – Cultural tour  East Coast Park – Archaeological dig site *Parent volunteers needed!


Language Arts/Literacy Teachers will teach specific skills and strategies to help students become better readers and writers. The program is balanced in that we aim to work on learning language, learning about language and learning through language. We are looking at the child’s whole language experience. Language Units are based upon 3 essential components:  Mini Lessons with explicit instruction  Independent practice  Group sharing.


PYP Language Outcomes

Students will understand: • the reading process • the writing process • the effective use of language as a valuable life skill • the internal structures of languages • the complexity of languages • that communicative competence comes before emphasis on accuracy.

Grade 5:

 “ARCH” (reading & writing routines)  Reading - Monitoring comprehension  Writing - Sentence fluency & paragraph structure *Integrate with UOI whenever possible


Mathematics The Mathematics program will enable students to make sense of the world around them and will involve the development of strategies, a body of knowledge, skills and attitudes. It will involve active inquiry that will engage students and teachers in answering and solving real life problems. Mathematical knowledge and skills will provide students with a body of understanding upon which to build and reflect. This will include:     

Mathematical Processes Number, Algebra, Pattern and Function Measurement Data Handling and Statistics Shape and Space


Grade 5:  Strands  Number Knowledge & Basic Facts  Mathletics  Problem of the Week  Differentiation

 Place value of numbers  Operations  Geometry


Home Learning *Approximately 60-75 minutes per day, including 20 minutes of Independent Reading     

Weekly Spelling/Word Study Problem of the Week Weekly Mathematics Practice (Mathletics or Practice Work) Other tasks based on class work at the time Independent Reading


Communication  Weekly Email Updates – every Friday *Please read!  “W.A.G.” – Week at a Glance for Middle School  Parent Advisory Emails  Phone call to Ms. Winnie or Ms. Suzi for urgent messages  Emails – response as soon as possible


Excursion Week 

Malaysia – location to be determined

April 15-19, 2013

$600 Approximately

Grade 5: -promoting real-life learning, problemsolving and independence


Room Parents

 1 or 2 per class to assist with planning the holiday party in December  Contact new families to welcome them and offer support  Teacher support when needed – individual teachers will advise (coordinate field trips, classroom activities etc.)


www.cis.edu.sg Thank you for attending.



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