Normandy Crossing Elementary

Fifth Grade Bilingual ELA Syllabus

2026–2027 School Year

Teacher: Ms. Caetano
Grade: 5th Grade Bilingual English Language Arts
School: Normandy Crossing Elementary
District: Galena Park ISD

Welcome!

Welcome to Fifth Grade Bilingual English Language Arts! This year, students will strengthen their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills while becoming confident, independent readers and writers. Our classroom is a safe, respectful, and engaging learning environment where every student is expected to grow academically and personally.

Curriculum

Instruction is based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Grade 5 Bilingual English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR).

Reading

Students will read and analyze:

• Informational texts

• Literary texts

• Argumentative texts

• Paired passages

• Drama

• Poetry

• Fiction

• Historical fiction

Students will develop skills in:

• Reading comprehension

• Vocabulary

• Fluency

• Making inferences

• Using text evidence

• Determining theme

• Comparing texts

• Author’s purpose

• Summarizing

• Analyzing argumentative texts

Grammar & Language

Students will receive daily instruction in:

• Parts of speech

• Verb tenses

• Pronouns

• Adjectives

• Adverbs

• Conjunctions

• Capitalization

• Punctuation

• Academic vocabulary

• Sentence structure

Writing

Students will write:

• Informational compositions

• Argumentative essays

• Reading responses

• Constructed responses

• Research projects

Students will revise, edit, and publish their writing throughout the year.

Classroom Expectations

Students are expected to:

• Be Respectful

• Be Responsible

• Be Safe

• Come prepared every day

• Participate actively

• Complete assignments on time

• Follow classroom procedures

Our classroom follows the Galena Park ISD Student Code of Conduct and campus expectations.

Electronic Device Policy (HB 1481)

In accordance with Texas House Bill 1481 and Galena Park ISD policy, students are not permitted to use personal electronic communication devices during the instructional day.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Cell phones

• Smartwatches

• Tablets

• Earbuds or headphones not issued or approved by the school

• Other personal electronic devices

Students should leave these devices at home whenever possible. If a device is brought to school, it must be powered off and put away during the entire instructional day unless an approved school exception applies.

Failure to follow this policy may result in the device being confiscated and disciplinary consequences according to Galena Park ISD and Texas House Bill 1481.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, focused, and distraction-free learning environment.

Homework

Homework will be assigned Monday through Thursday to reinforce the skills taught in class.

Students are expected to:

• Read 20–30 minutes every evening

• Complete all homework assignments

• Practice vocabulary and grammar

• Review classroom learning

Reading every day is one of the best ways to improve reading achievement.

Weekly Assessments

To monitor student progress and mastery of the TEKS, students will take a weekly assessment every Friday. These assessments may include:

• Reading Comprehension

• Grammar

• Vocabulary

• Writing

• Skills taught throughout the week

These assessments help prepare students for district assessments and the STAAR test while allowing instruction to be adjusted based on student needs.

Grading Policy

Student grades will follow the Galena Park ISD Elementary Grading Guidelines and will reflect mastery of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

Major Grades – 60%

• Unit Assessments

• Reading Assessments

• Writing Compositions

• Projects

• STAAR-style Assessments

• Extended Constructed Responses (ECRs)

Daily Grades – 40%

• Classwork

• Reading Responses

• Grammar & Vocabulary Assignments

• Quizzes

• Independent Practice

• Homework (used to reinforce learning)

Missing Work

Students are expected to complete all assignments. Work missed because of an absence may be made up according to Galena Park ISD guidelines.

Parents are encouraged to monitor grades regularly through Skyward.

Materials Needed

• Composition notebook

• Pencils

• Highlighters

• Colored pencils

• Dry-erase marker

• Folder

• Headphones (if requested)

Teacher Contact Information

Ms. Caetano
5th Grade Bilingual English Language Arts
Normandy Crossing Elementary
Galena Park ISD

Email: gcaetano@galenaparkisd.com

Preferred Communication:

• Skyward Messages

• Email: gcaetano@galenaparkisd.com

• Call the school office. If I am unavailable, the office will gladly take a message, and I will return your call as soon as possible.

Our Classroom Philosophy

Every child learns at a different pace, and every student has unique strengths. Instruction will be differentiated to meet students where they are academically while providing the support and challenge they need to grow.

Our goal is not perfection—it is continuous progress. We will work together to build confident readers, strong writers, and lifelong learners.

I look forward to partnering with you to make this a successful school year!

Ms. Caetano
5th Grade Bilingual English Language Arts
Normandy Crossing Elementary
Galena Park ISD

“Growing Readers, Building Leaders.”