St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary and Middle School

Fifth graders start growing toward independence but still need guidance, encouragement, and support from home. We assist parents in the spiritual, educational, and social development of their child as fifth graders prepare for the middle school adventure.

St. Francis offers a strong and varied academic curriculum for fifth grade students.

Religion: Faith First emphasizes the sacraments and their importance in a Catholic’s life. A Family Life program is used to help fifth graders prepare for adolescence. Fifth graders also have the opportunity to altar serve at weekly school masses and parish masses.

Reading: A literature-based program is used to help students become successful readers. Systematic instruction provides opportunities for students to develop a variety of strategies and skills, which will allow them to apply meaning to what they read. “Read to Succeed!” is our grade level motto.

English: Houghton Mifflin's English provides basic grammar instruction as fifth grade focuses on the belief that an effective language arts program must include reading, writing, listening, speaking, thinking, and language study.

Spelling: Zaner Bloser's Spelling focuses on words that fifth graders need to master. Weekly spelling tests are given and spelling is stressed and expected in all content areas.

Social Studies: Core democratic values are highlighted and students are introduced to the people and events that have created the United States in Scott Foresman's, Our Nation.

Math: Instruction in all operations with whole numbers, charts and graphs, metric and standard measurement and emphasis on decimal and fraction operations occurs in fifth grade.

Technology: Technology is incorporated into all aspects of our curriculum. Students create documents, power point presentations and projects using Hyper Studio and

Inspiration.

Handwriting: Emphasis is on neatness and forming cursive letters correctly, and is required on daily written assignments.

Science: Life science, physical science, and earth science are studied as part of fifth grade science classes. Children learn about many related topics including adaptations, ecology, matter, motion, and energy, climate and astronomy. We use Scott Foresman's Science.

Specials and enrichment opportunities enhance the fifth grade core curriculum.

Spanish: Beginning this year, Spanish is being taught to all students. Fifth grade will build vocabulary and their beginning reading, writing, and conversation skills. Students will also learn about the Hispanic culture and Catholic faith with short prayers, songs, and traditions.

Specials: In addition to academic classes, children have weekly art, band, computer, PE, library, and music classes.

Keyboarding: A three-week keyboarding class is taught twice during the school year to fifth grade. Students are encouraged to use these skills assignments.

Fifth Grade Camp: This is a fun-filled week with emphasis on environmental education, which takes place at YMCA Storer Camp outside Jackson, MI.

Field Trips: Our class field trips vary from year to year. In the past we have seen plays, visited museums, and participated in lessons taught at St. Joseph Hospital.

T.E.A.M.: The Washtenaw Sheriff’s Department teaches students how to recognize and resist the direct and subtle pressures that may influence them negatively.

Classroom procedures require listening during instruction with independent follow-through. On the average, fifth graders should plan on 50 to 60 minutes of homework per night. Some of the assignments may be long-term projects like book reports, spelling lessons, etc. These assignments should be worked on during evenings when there is less daily homework or on the weekend if your child works at a slower pace or has many outside obligations during the school week. All assignments should be recorded in an assignment book and handed in on time. Getting and staying organized is a life strategy practiced in fifth grade.