Fifth and Sixth Grade Families: September 8, 2020 

Welcome to Q1 online learning. We will do our very best to help all families implement
a structure that will work for students. Please approach this new platform like you would
a school day as much as possible. Setting up a dedicated space for student learning is
a good place to start, if possible. If not, use a box or crate to create a “mobile learning
station”, including all the supplies needed to have a successful day. Headphones will
be an indispensable part of online learning.

We will use our ​COMMON RUBRIC ​to grade daily student classwork:

● ★ Student has shown convincing evidence of understanding. Answer is

accurate and written in full detail. The student has met expectations of the task
presented.
○ Calculation: ​100%

● ✔+ Student has shown some convincing evidence of understanding. The work

may contain a minor error. Answer is accurate to answer the task and/or thinking
shown.
○ Calculation: ​90%

● ✔ Student has shown some evidence of understanding. The answer

demonstrates some understanding of the presented task. May contain minor
errors or a major error.
○ Calculation: ​80%

● ✔- Student has attempted to solve the task. Answer is incorrect.

○ Calculation:​ 70%

● ⊘ No attempt made to solve the task.

○ Calculation: ​ Incomplete

Grading Scale: Grading Weights: 

100-90 A 40% Assessment
89-80 B 45% Classwork
79-70 C 15% Projects/Participation
69-60 D
59 ​↓ ​F

READING​: 
5th- ​Students will learn to read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas and 
poetry.  
6th-​ Students will learn to read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas and 
poetry. We will compare and contrast texts in different forms and genres. Students will 
further investigate the similarities in the author’s approach and common themes within 
literature. 
 
WRITING: 
5th- ​Students will learn a process for developing essays, and write in the narrative, 
informational, and persuasive forms. In addition, poetry writing will take a prominent role in 
workshop this year, using the resources form the Poetry Foundation to develop and 
appreciation for this word art. 
6th- ​Students will expound on the writing process they acquired last year, developing 
essays with a deeper sensibility to form and context. In addition, sixth graders will develop 
a greater understanding of the poetry work we began last year, utilizing the Poetry 
Foundation as a resource of knowledge and playfulness with words. 
 
SOCIAL STUDIES:  
5th- ​Students will study early American history. We will also study and discuss current 
events.  
6th- ​Students will study ancient civilizations. We will also study and discuss current events.  
6th graders will also participate in the Chicago Metro History Fair.  
 
MATH: 
5th- ​Students will learn through a combination of hands-on projects, performance tasks, 
and skill practice to build fluency in basic math skills. The 5th grade curriculum focuses on 
developing fluency with fractions and operations with fractions, whole number and decimal 
relationships, two-digit division, and a strong sense of volume. 
6th- ​Students will learn through a combination of hands-on projects, performance tasks, 
and skill practice to build mathematical skills that will prepare them for middle school math 
courses including Pre-Algebra. The 6th grade curriculum focuses on developing an 
understanding of ratios, rates, and rational numbers, reading graphs and evaluating 
statistics, writing and using expressions and equations, and developing working knowledge 
with negative numbers.  
 
SCIENCE: 
Students in 5th and 6th Grade will explore Science topics in correlation with the Next 
Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Science will be taught by homeroom teachers, with a 
mixture of synchronous and asynchronous instruction.  

We welcome all questions as we try to work together during this unprecedented time.
More information about fourth quarter grading will be available next week. Dedicated
Office Hours are from M-F, 1:30-2:30 pm. Please reach out via email. If your email is
sent outside of office hours, please allow 24 hours for a response.

 
Stay healthy and safe, 
The Fifth/Sixth Grade Team