In my fifth grade classroom, I teach a variety of subjects designed to support students academically, socially, and emotionally while encouraging critical thinking and a love for learning.
Number Corner is a daily math routine that helps students strengthen foundational math skills through engaging activities involving number sense, problem-solving, patterns, measurement, and mathematical discussions. It provides students with consistent practice and opportunities to build confidence in their mathematical thinking.
The fifth grade CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) curriculum is a comprehensive literacy program designed to strengthen students’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills while building their knowledge across a variety of subjects and topics. The curriculum combines both foundational literacy instruction and rich content knowledge to help students become confident, thoughtful, and independent learners.
Through CKLA, students engage with a wide range of fiction and nonfiction texts that expose them to history, science, literature, and different cultures. Students practice close reading, critical thinking, vocabulary development, and text analysis while learning how to support their ideas with evidence from the text. Writing instruction is integrated throughout the curriculum and includes narrative, informative, and opinion writing opportunities that encourage students to clearly communicate their thoughts and ideas.
The curriculum also emphasizes collaborative discussions, listening skills, and oral presentations to help students build confidence in expressing themselves. Grammar, spelling, and language conventions are taught within meaningful contexts to support overall literacy development.
Overall, the fifth grade CKLA curriculum promotes strong literacy skills while encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
In fifth grade math, students engage in the Math Expressions curriculum to develop a strong understanding of mathematical concepts through hands-on learning, problem-solving, and mathematical discussions. Instruction focuses on building number sense, mastering operations with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals, and applying mathematical thinking to real-world situations. To further support student understanding, I create my own guided notes aligned to each standard prior to completing curriculum workbook activities. These personalized notes help break down concepts into manageable steps, provide visual supports, and encourage students to actively engage with the material before practicing independently.
The fifth grade Amplify Science curriculum engages students in hands-on, inquiry-based learning that encourages critical thinking and scientific problem-solving. Students explore topics in life, physical, and Earth sciences through investigations, experiments, collaborative discussions, and real-world scenarios. The curriculum promotes student curiosity while helping students develop a deeper understanding of scientific concepts, practices, and cross-curricular connections through interactive and engaging lessons.
The fifth grade TCI Social Studies curriculum provides students with an engaging and interactive exploration of United States history. Through hands-on activities, primary sources, collaborative learning, and inquiry-based lessons, students develop a deeper understanding of historical events, geography, economics, and civics. The curriculum encourages critical thinking, discussion, and connections between past and present while helping students build strong social studies skills in an engaging learning environment.
During WIN (What I Need) time, students receive targeted instruction and support based on their individual academic needs. I utilize small group instruction to provide differentiated support at varying levels, allowing students to strengthen specific skills, receive additional practice, and build confidence in their learning. Groups are flexible and data-driven, ensuring that instruction is tailored to best support student growth and achievement.