Fifth Grade

Language Arts: Fifth grade students continue to build on their reading repertoire and learn to clarify ideas and make connections between selected novels.  Oral and written assignments related to literary works give students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the fundamental elements of plot, conflict and resolution. Expository selections will be used to help with the acquisition of grade level specialized vocabulary.  Students learn to write multi-paragraph  essays recognizing the audience necessary for each of the four genres emphasized during the year.

Mathematics: Fifth graders continue to study along the math strands: number sense, algebra and  functions, measurement, geometry, statistics, data analysis and probability, and mathematical reasoning. By the end of year, students increase their facility with the four basic arithmetic operations applied to fractions, decimals, and positive and negative numbers. They know and use common measuring units to determine length and area and how to use formulas to determine the volume of simple geometric figures. Students know the concept of angle measurement and use a protractor and compass to solve problems, as well as use grids, tables, graphs, and charts to record and analyze data.

Science: Fifth graders continue to study the 3 components of science: Physical, Life and Earth. They will learn that elements and their combinations account for all of the varied types of matter in the world. They will study the different systems (circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and waste disposal) in animals. Students will study how water on Earth moves between the oceans and land through the processes of evaporation and condensation, and about Earth’s place in our Solar System. They will perform experiments and test their theories using various forms of scientific inquiry and data representation to form a complete scientific report.

Social Studies: 

Students study the development of the nation up to 1850, with an emphasis on the people who were already here, when and from where others arrived, and why they came. Fifth graders  learn about the colonial government founded on Judeo-Christian principles, the ideals of the Enlightenment, and the English traditions of self-government. They recognize that ours is a nation that has a constitution that derives its power from the people. The U.S. has gone through a revolution that once sanctioned slavery, that experienced conflict over land with the original inhabitants, and experienced a westward expansion that took its people across the continent. Studying the cause, course, and consequences of the early explorations through the War for Independence and Western expansion is central to students’ fundamental understanding of how the principles of the American republic form the basis of a pluralistic society in which individual rights are secured.

Meet Luis Argüeta ...

Fifth & Fourth Grade Teacher, Two-Way-Immersion, Room 201 / Maestro de cuarto y quinto grado, Inmersión Dual, Salón 201

I decided to become a teacher two years after completing my Bachelor’s Degree in History/Administrative Studies from UC Riverside.

I really enjoyed algebra when I took it in sixth grade at Fontana Junior High. Mr. Allen taught it so clearly that it became my favorite subject. Although Mr. Allen was the person who helped me focus on math, it was my first grade teacher, Ms. Morris, who inspired me the most. She was “that” teacher! She helped my brother and me a lot our first years in this country.

This leads me to what I like most about being a teacher—the ability to help families who are new to the educational system learn the pitfalls and access points: knowledge that is needed to make their educational  experience as successful as possible.

In my opinion the most important lesson to be learned is that inequalities exist; therefore, I see part of my job as helping to remove barriers and work toward equality.

Decidí ser maestro dos años después de completar mi licenciatura de historia/estudios administrativos de UC Riverside. Me encantó algebra cuando la tomé en el sexto  grado en Fontana Junior High.  Sr. Allen la enseñó tan claramente que era mi materia preferida. Aunque Sr. Allen era la persona que me ayudó a enfocarme en matemáticas,

era mi maestra del primer grado, Sra. Morris, que me inspiró más. ¡Era “esa” maestra! Me ayudó mucho a mi hermano y yo durante nuestros primeros años en este pais. Eso me lleva a lo que me gusta más de ser maestro—la habilidad de ayudar a las familias, que son nuevas al sistema educacional, a aprender los riesgos y puntos de acceso, un conocimiento que se necesita para hacer que sus experiencias educacionales sea lo mejor posible.  En mi opinión, la lección más importante que se aprende es que existen la desigualdades; por eso, yo lo veo como parte de mi trabajo, ayudar a quitar las barreras y trabajar hacia la igualdad.

Meet Yusef Auletta ...

Fifth Grade Teacher, Room 206