Welcome to 5th grade and BIS! Please take a few minutes to read over the following information. My hope is that this will answer some questions you may have in regards to the academic part of the school year. If you have any questions, always feel free to contact me! The best way to reach me is by e-mail, I check my e-mail frequently throughout the day and will get back to you as soon as possible.

Curriculum: We are using the same math programs, Eureka and Zearn, that students in Bossier Parish have used for the last several years. Students will NOT be assigned a math textbook to bring home. They will be responsible for taking notes & working sample problems in their Zearn binder and spiral notebook in class as we work & discuss together. At any time I may check their binder/notebook for a classwork completion grade for completing it as I have given directions to do so. Your student will not usually have homework in math, unless they did not complete their work during class.

**Students will use their binder for Zearn materials. Printed materials will be given at the beginning of each Mission and are to remain in their binder until the next Mission’s materials are passed out. It is the student's responsibility to bring their binder with their Zearn materials inside each day. We are only given one set of printed materials for each student, so it is VERY important that these materials are not lost or destroyed.**

Math 4 Today/Daily 5: Each day during the FIRST FIVE minutes of math, your child will work on a mix of new and review skills called Math 4 Today/Daily 5. They will be given a new page each Monday to keep in their binder for the week. We will talk about each day’s problems throughout the week and students will take a quiz covering the skills on Friday. If your child knows they will not be in class one day that week, they are free to work ahead on Math 4 Today/Daily 5 away from school in order to not fall behind. Occasionally, I will do a random “check for completion” classwork grade to make sure students are checking and correcting their work as we are discussing the problems together in class.

Quizzes & Tests: We will have a Math 4 Today/Daily 5 Quiz each week on Friday. We will also have Mid- and End-of-Module Assessments throughout each of our 6 modules. Advance notice for our MM and EOM Assessments will be given through the BIS app, Google Classroom, and in class.

Grades: Grades are not weighted in math. I update grades weekly so that you are aware of your child’s standing in my class. I take grades on a variety of activities and assignments, in addition to quizzes and tests, to give your child every opportunity to earn a grade that is representative of his or her effort and skills. Please be sure you are signed up for OnCourse Connect so you are able to stay in the loop with your child’s grades.

Khan Academy: Students will be assigned Khan Academy assignments that align to current skills throughout each module. Khan is an excellent resource for LEAP-like questions and we have seen great results from using it as a supplemental tool for preparation! The assignments will be for a grade and specifics for each “set” of assignments will vary depending on the topics we are covering, but will always be shared with students upon being assigned with several reminders before the due date.

Absent/Late & Missing Work: If your child is absent, it is super important for them to check our Google Classroom for any assignments and that notifications for their MATH class are toggled ON on the BIS app so you don’t miss any announcements. When students have late or missing work, it is vital they e-mail me to let me know what late or missing work they have completed. I do not receive an automatic notification when things are completed late and I do not check previous assignments once we have moved on, so I won’t know it has been completed unless they e-mail to tell me. This, of course, also helps students to take ownership of their academics! Thanks in advance for your help with this!

Bonus Opportunities: Various opportunities for extra credit will be available throughout each 9- week grading period. Students have the opportunity for 2 bonus points on their Math 4 Today quiz each week. I will also assign Quizizz Review Games for each End-of-Module Assessment. Students will have 1 attempt to score 75% accuracy and earn 2 bonus points on their Assessment score. I will communicate Quizizz information to students through our Google Classroom and in class.

Google Classroom for Math Help: EVERY mission/module with supporting materials (including instructional videos) for the school year can be found in the 5th Grade Math Help Google Classroom that your child will know how to access. Each section is organized by module in the order it is completed during the year. These resources are beneficial when a student is absent but also for those times when students may need a quick refresher because they just didn’t quite catch something. Lastly, there is a parent newsletter for each topic in the module. These give excellent tips for what the topic will cover and how you can best help your child at home.

I am excited for a fantastic year in 5th grade! Thank you for all you do to help ensure your child is present and prepared to learn to the best of their ability everyday we have together!