Mrs. Beatty’s 5th Grade Math Class

Welcome to a new and exciting school year! I am looking forward to working with each of you. This year, you will

encounter new challenges as you learn different math concepts. I hope to make this time in your life fun and

exciting, yet educational.

Classroom Requirements

Each student is expected to come to class prepared every day. Being prepared is an essential part of the learning

process and being successful in school.

Suggested Materials

- Pencils - Spiral/Composition Notebook - Loose Leaf Paper

- Red Pens - Pocket Folder - 1 one inch binder

* Please let me know if you need assistance obtaining any of these items.

Attendance and make-up work

It is your responsibility to get any assignments and information missed due to an absence. Notes can be obtained

from another student in the class or by checking the absent binder in the back of the classroom. All homework is

posted on the white board on the wall and in the absent binder. The worksheets for the month can be found by

date in the teal bin on the back counter. Please remember math concepts build upon each other and missing lessons

taught by the teacher will make learning new concepts difficult.

Note-taking

You should keep some kind of notebook for taking class notes. It could be a 3-ring binder with a section for math

notes, or a spiral notebook. Notes will be taken daily and will include definitions, steps or procedures for solving

problems, and example problems. Your notes are your greatest resource when studying for a test or quiz.

Remember, since there is no math textbook, your notes are your textbook! There will be periodic notebook checks.

Grading

Grades will be based on the following:

95% - Tests and Quizzes

5% - Homework and in-class assignments

Learning Requirements

In 5th grade math, we will focus on four critical areas. First, we will focus on place value and all decimal operations

(addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). Then, we will work with all fraction operations. We will also

spend some time this year working with area, perimeter, and volume. We will finish this year by working on problem

solving on the coordinate plane. In addition to these five focus areas, we will be using the 8 Mathematical Practices

as we work through problem solving situations.

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving

them. 5. Use appropriate tools strategically.

2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively. 6. Attend to precision.

3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning

of others. 7. Look for and make use of structure.

4. Model with mathematics. 8. Look for and express regularity in repeated

reasoning.

Helping your student

Don’t worry about trying to teach your child the way you learned how to do various math problems. In 5th grade, we

will eventually learn the way you did, too! However, with the new Common Core Math Standards, students will be

first asked to learn the “how” and “why” in order to build a deeper understanding of the way you know how to do

various math procedures. One of the best ways you can help your child is to encourage them to explain how they

are working through problems and let them show you what they learned in school. Your child is welcome to come in

at lunch or recess if they need extra help or support. I will remind them of this in class, too!

Student Responsibility

I will do my job, which is to teach you math, but you will need to do your job. Your grade is the pay you receive for

doing your job. The more you put into it, the more pay you shall receive (or the higher the grade!). How can you be

successful in math?

1. Come prepared for class 4. Complete all homework assignments

2. Pay attention in class 5. Study at home for all tests

3. Participate in class 6. ASK FOR HELP IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND

Remember, I cannot read your mind. If you do not ask questions, I assume that you understand the material. Math

concepts build upon each other. If you don’t understand a concept, don’t let it go by. It will come back up again and

if you didn’t learn it the first time, you will have trouble again. The only stupid question is the one that goes

unasked! If you ever need extra help, feel free to come in at lunch at ask me then, too!

If you need to reach me at any time please feel free to contact me at: phone number 623-445-8272 or e-mail me

at kendra.beatty@dvusd.org

You can also access my website http://dvusd.org/nc-beatty for more information and helpful websites for both

parents and students.

Thank you for your time and support!

Instead of signing this document, please sign your son or daughter’s agenda in their math box for Monday 8-10-15.