5/6 graders will be following the curriculum set out by St Paul Public Schools.

• Reading will be taught in the form of Reader's Workshop and throughout the day in other content areas. Research shows that the more time students spend reading the faster they become fluent readers, able to focus on the content of what they are reading rather than the act of reading itself. 5th and 6th graders should be reading for pleasure and for information. As they progress through the upper grades they will be expected to read more and tackle increasingly difficult material. It is essential to their future, no matter which career path they choose, that they learn to be proficient readers. I have a great love of children's and young adult literature as you will see from my well stocked classroom library. I will be exposing my class to a wide variety of genres and forms of text. I hope they will be introducing me to some new things too!
• Writing is also an essential skill that will be practiced and refined during Writer's Workshop and across the content areas. Students will be expected to write daily and publish several pieces of work in different genres throughout the year.
• Math will be taught in single-grade groups. Michelle will teach 5th grade math and Nicola will teach 6th. We use the Everyday Mathematics curriculum developed by the University of Chicago. Students who show advanced proficiency and adequate maturity will be moved to a higher grade-level math group with the approval of their family.
• Spelling will be using the Words Their Way curriculum. This is a sequential curriculum, which meets students at their spelling developmental stage and moves them forward at an appropriate pace.
• Social Studies follows a two year cycle due to our multiage grouping. In 08-09 we will be following thw 6th grade curriculum and in 09-10 the 5th grade curriculum. Click here for the 4-6 Social Studies Frameworks.
• Science is taught by our specialist, Anna Butler, and will follow a two-week rotation schedule.
• Physical Education is taught by our specialist, Mark Scioli, and will follow a two-week rotation schedule with science. Both science and phy-ed will be taught in single-grade classes.
• Art will be taught in homeroom. We hope to cover a basic introduction to the major movements in art history as well as some drawing instruction.

Click here to access an electronic version of the Learning Standards for 5th and 6th grade.