Communication Arts
Assessment/Implementation Statement
Grade
Five
IMPLEMENTATION
Every
student must read and write everyday!!!
Basic materials: The Board of Trustees adopted the Harcourt Trophies materials for the purpose of implementing the Communication Arts curriculum. This program is designed to be taught sequentially and generally take 6 weeks per unit. The Daily Oral Language program, the D'Nealian penmanship program and the Keyboarding Program review will continue to be used in conjunction with the Harcourt materials. The Harcourt Intervention Program will be used in the Literacy Program. The use of these materials across the District will assure that students receive a well-balanced and consistent Communication Arts program, which is critical to the overall success of our students.
The assessment guidelines that follow indicate which Harcourt themes need to be covered to assure a complete program. Daily Oral Language and D'Nealian penmanship programs will be used as designed.
Supplemental materials: Teachers, principals and building staffs are encouraged to make necessary professional judgments as to the supplemental materials and instructional strategies that best meet the needs of the students in their classrooms/schools as well as their individual teaching styles. To this end, Great Falls Public Schools has provided a number of training opportunities and/or materials. These include: computer software, strategies for literature, writing, Successmaker, and skill instruction as well as other communication arts topics. It is important to note these additional materials are not to replace the Harcourt materials but to support them.
ASSESSMENT
The assessment components for fifth grade include the use of MAP Assessment, Harcourt oral fluency, spelling review tests, holistic theme based tests, and skills based End-of-Year test. These assessments are aligned with state standards and the benchmarks found in the Great Falls Public Schools Curriculum.
Students will complete one piece of writing per quarter that will be rated using the District Intermediate Writing Rubric (see attached on previous page.) During the fourth quater, fifth grade students will participate in the district writing assessment to take the place of another quarterly assessment. The goal is that students will perform at the proficient level when rated using the District Intermediate Writing Rubric.
THEMES
NEEDED TO COVER THE CURRICULUM:
TE 3 Distant Voyages, A Changing Planet
TE 4 Distant Voyages, Express Yourself
TE 5 Distant Voyages, School Rules
TE 6 Distant Voyages, American Adventure
*"Frindle" is to be replaced with "Indian Shoes" in order to support Indian Education for All. These books can be checked out from the District Curriculum Library.
Grade
6
TE 2 Timeless Treasures, Friends to the Rescue
*If a 5/6 Combination class gets to "Old Yeller," it is to be replaced with "Arrow Over the Door" to support Indian Education for All.
*Supplemental materials may change as curriculum committee completes its work.