Syllabus
Syllabus
Welcome to Ms. West’s 5th Grade Class
Ellen Woodside Elementary School
2025-2026
5th Grade Syllabus
Ms. West
864-355-4947
awest@greemville.k12.sc.us
Website Link: A. West's 5th Grade Class
Class Mission Statement
Classroom Mission Statement coming soon.
Class Schedule
7:30-8:00
Morning Arrival and News
8:00-8:15
Leader in Me
8:15-8:35
Wildcat Time
8:35-9:25
Reading Workshop
9:25-10:00
Writing Workshop
10:00-10:45
Related Arts
M: Art T: Leader Lab W: Music
Th: STEAM F: PE
*B Week- Monday- (8:50-9:20): Library
10:50-11:05
Writing Workshop
11:10-11:35
Lunch
11:40-12:40
Math
12:40-1:25
Science/Health/Social Studies
1:25-1:45
Recess and Bathroom Break
1:50-2:05
Language and Word Study
IRA, Phonics, Grammar, Vocabulary
2:05-2:10
Dismissal Procedures
Please click on the link to access the 5th grade instructional units.
In addition to the units listed above:
Penmanship- review of print, writing in cursive
Grade Level Standards in Each Subject Area
Please click on the link to visit the state website to view standards.
Family Friendly 5th Grade SC Standards
Instructional Materials and Resources/Required Texts
Language Arts/Reading
Reading: HMH Reading Series
Instructional Materials and Resources: Teacher Edition, Student text, Promethean flipcharts, Google Classroom, Mastery Connect, diagrams, story maps, writing journals, leveled readers, and a wide variety of classroom books.
Math
Series: McGraw Hill South Carolina Reveal Math: Teacher Editions, student workbooks (Volume 1 and 2), Practice Workbook, digital textbooks, digital activities, ALEKS program online, printable games, digital and printable centers, differentiated instruction plans and activities, manipulatives, Google Classroom, and Mastery Connect.
Social Studies
Series: My World The Growth of Our Country by Savvas
Resources and Instructional Materials: Teacher Edition, students’ consumable workbooks, Promethean flipcharts, classroom books, Google Classroom, and enrichment materials.
Science
Building Blocks of Science
Instructional Materials and Resources: Greenville School District Science Kits, Skills Guide for Teachers (included in Science Kits), Promethean flipcharts, Google Classroom, Carolina Science Online, and STEAM Lab.
Major Assessment/Evaluation Of Student Work
Students will be assessed informally and formally using the district grading scale, the district writing rubrics for fifth grade, MasteryConnect tests, teacher-made tests, and grade level rubrics for projects. Grades will be recorded in PowerSchool.
Students will earn grades for quizzes, daily work, participation, major tests, and projects. Please remember that a “C” is average. Encourage students to set reasonable small goals for themselves and celebrate improvements.
Assessments this year will be given in various digital forms, as well as paper assessments in the classroom. These assessments might be Flipgrid videos, Google Forms, Google Slides, Quizizz games, MasteryConnect, or several other digital assessment tools.
All students will participate in state and district assessments. Students with an Individualized Education Plan, speech students, and students with 504 plans may qualify for appropriate modifications and accommodations.
*Evaluation of Student Progress:
In ALL academic areas there will be quizzes, tests, informal observations, and projects (home and school) to track student progress. Each academic area will utilize some or all of the following testing formats: short answer written response, explanations, multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching, calculations, problem solving, portfolio and/or scientific processes.
Elementary Grade Weightings (link)
Grading Scale:
A=90-100
B=80-89
C=70-79
D=60-69
F=59 and below
Student Records
Grades
Student grades are recorded electronically on PowerTeacher Pro, a computer-based grade book. This will allow you to view student grades and other important information. Parents have access only to the grades of their child.
Student Work Filing
Student work is filed and sent home in weekly folders.
Student Information Filing
Parents are asked to keep papers placed in the “keep at home” side and return papers on the “sign and return” side. Also, communication between home and school will be stored. The filed items may be helpful during conferences.
Writing Files
Students’ writing will be filed and kept in the classroom. Students will use the writing samples to create a writing portfolio.
Permanent Records
The district writing prompts and reading benchmark tests will be placed in the students’ ELA folders. Ellen Woodside respects student privacy. The permanent records room is locked at all times.
Rules and Procedures
House System
Each class was put into a “house” (Loyalty, Excellence, Ambition, Dependable, Empathy, or Respect) at the beginning of the year. Students are in houses as a homeroom class. Students will earn points in related arts areas of the school. Points are totaled up each Thursday and the leading house is announced Friday morning.
Classroom Rules
Each classroom can create a set of rules that students must abide by. These rules and consequences will be communicated to the parents and students.
Procedures for Non-Instructional Routines
Folder
Each student has a folder that will travel back and forth between school and home. The folder is for the Monday Memo, Math Review, Reading log, Study Guides, and other materials that the teacher may instruct the student to place in the folder.
Homework
Students have a daily reading log and a weekly math and ELA review. Study guides are sent home for Science and Social Studies tests (and most quizzes). Excessive incompleteness of assignments will result in a phone call/ meeting with parent and child. Each incomplete homework assignment will result in a loss of points from their grade. Students who complete all their work each quarter will be rewarded.
Bathroom
Students are allowed to use the restroom as a group twice a day and on an as needed basis.
Lunchroom
During lunch, students are not allowed to talk for the first five minutes. After the first five minutes, the students have permission to talk quietly to their neighbor. Only students with parent permission may purchase two “extras” from the lunchroom. Please remember that students are asked not to bring soda to school.
Money
If money is sent to school with your child, please place it in an envelope or bag and write his/her name, the teacher’s name, the amount of money and what the money's for on the front of the envelope. For example, Wednesday’s lunch, Book Fair, Field Trip, etc. We want to make sure your money goes where it needs to go.
Dismissals
If your child will be dismissed from school in a different way than he or she usually does, please notify the teacher or school in writing. Please put your name and phone number where you can be reached. Transportation changes may not be made by phone or e-mail. This rule is enforced for the safety of our students. Students may not receive early dismissals after 1:45PM.
Birthdays
We look forward to celebrating birthdays! We are allowed to share commercially packaged individual items.
Medication
Greenville County School District does not allow any medication to be kept in the classroom. If your child needs medication during the school day, please follow the school district’s guidelines. These are listed in the Ellen Woodside Student Handbook or you may call the school nurse with any questions or concerns.
Fire Drills
In the event of a fire drill, the students will line up at the door. We will go out the door, to the right, and walk swiftly out of the building near the 5th grade hallway.. The students will walk to the front parking lot and gather in a line, facing the building. The students should remain silent during the entire drill. The clear bag and class roster will be brought with the teacher. The teacher will take roll and hold up the green card if every student is present. If a child is missing or absent, the teacher will hold up the red card, and tell the appropriate person who is missing and whereabouts if known. Please refer to the red folder in the clear bag for more information. Attendance information should also be logged into the Raptor system.
Tornado Drills
In the event of a tornado drill, the students will line up at the door. We will go out the door to the designated areas. The students will kneel down with their hands covering their heads. The students will remain silent during the entire drill. The clear bag and class roster should be brought with the teacher. Please refer to the red folder in the clear bag for more information. Attendance information should also be logged into the Raptor system.
Lockdown Procedures
In the event of a school lockdown, students will all get on the floor away from doors and windows. The teacher will lock and close the door. Students will do an activity quietly with the teacher on the floor until “all clear” announcements have been given. Please refer to the red folder in the clear bag for more information. Attendance information should also be logged into the Raptor system.
Parent Participation
Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school. We encourage parents, grandparents, and any other family members to become active members of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).
School Hours
School begins at 7:45 AM and ends at 2:15 PM. Please be sure that your child is at school on time. Students will be supervised in their holding areas if they arrive between 7:00-7:25 AM. If you will be picking up your child in the afternoons, please come through the car line. Your child’s number will be displayed on the Promethean Board and he/she will come to your car.
School Attendance/Tardy Policy
Your child’s regular and prompt attendance at school is crucial to his/her success. A written excuse for an absence must be presented on the student’s first day back to school. The office will not accept notes more than 2 days after the absence. If visiting a doctor, please bring in a written doctor’s excuse. Accrued absences, excused or unexcused, may NOT exceed 10 days during the school year. More than 10 absences may result in the student not being credited for that school year.
Missed Work/Make-up Policy
It is district policy that all work must be made up within 5 (five) days of an excused absence. All missed assignments will be stapled together and placed in your child’s folder the day he/she returns to school. If you would like to pick up your child’s missed work please let the teacher know at the beginning of the day so that it will be ready by 2:30.
Communication with Parents/Guardians
Parent Welcome Phone Call
At the beginning of the year, all parents/guardians will receive a welcome phone call. Additional phone calls will be made throughout the year for positive and/or negative behavior to promote an effective line of communication between teacher and parent/guardian.
Monday Memo
A newsletter will be given to all students every Monday. It is to be shared with their parents/guardians. The newsletter will contain all the latest important information including dates to remember, the spelling words for the week, daily homework assignments for the week, teacher contact, and information related to subjects.
24-Hour Policy
Teachers will respond to all phone calls and/or emails within 24 hours during the work week.
Teacher Website/Webpage
The teacher will create a classroom webpage to communicate with parents. Parents/guardians can learn more about the teacher, upcoming events, and classroom experiences.
Conferences
Conferences can be requested by the parent or the teacher.
In conclusion, I am very excited about the upcoming school year. I am happy to have your child in my class and will try my best to make 5th grade a fun time! If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone (864-355-4947), e-mail (awest@greenville.k12.sc.us), in writing, or come by the school. Thank you!