Mr. Wolfe’s Fifth Grade Class

2006-2007

Ashland Area Elementary Center

Room 215

1 Broad Street

Ashland, PA 17921

570.875.2371

bwolfe@northschuylkill.net

Come along with us for an exciting ride into learning!

Class Information

Our Classroom Rules

ü Respect yourself, others, and your school.

ü Only make choices that will allow all students to learn.

ü Only make choices that will allow the teacher to teach.

Most minor discipline problems are addressed by the teacher in the classroom. You will be notified of repetitive or more serious discipline problems. School administration may also become involved in serious discipline problems and appropriate consequences will be given.

Homework Policy

Generally homework is given Monday through Thursday. Assignments are posted on our homework board, and students are given the time to record them in their homework tablets. Students are given notice of tests and projects in advance. Homework is expected to be completed. After three missed homework assignments in one month, an after school detention will be issued. A detention will be given for every missed assignment after the third missed assignment in the same month. Homework is meant to be a review or practice of concepts developed in school. If your child struggles with homework, please let me know.

Communication

Orange communication folders are sent home every Friday. You will find information from the school or district offices as well as student work samples. Please review your child’s papers and sign the top student paper and communication sheet. Ashland Elementary also participates in the Homework Helpline. Use this only as a backup as assignments are called in before lunch. Therefore, information may not always be accurate. If at any time you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

Student Absences

When your child is absent, call the school office at 875-2371. Please let the office know who will be taking home your child’s missed class and homework. If your child is unable to complete the missed work before returning to school, he or she will be able to catch up during the week or over the weekend.

Curriculum Information

The textbooks used at Ashland Elementary are aligned with the Pennsylvania state standards. Math and Reading anchors are frequently reviewed to insure instruction is aligned to the state standards and to prepare students for state assessments.

Reading, Spelling, and Language: Ashland Elementary uses the Harcourt Collections Reading and Language Arts program. In this program reading selections are grouped into six themes. Generally a story is developed every week with a selection test and vocabulary quiz given on Friday. Rereading the selections to an adult at home is strongly encouraged. In spelling each lesson relates to the reading selection. The spelling list is sent home in the orange Friday communication folder for the next week. Keep this list at home and review it throughout the week. Grammar and writing skills are also developed within the Collections program. Throughout the year, your child will develop narrative, informational, descriptive, persuasive, and poetic writings.

Vocabulary Olympics

Grades four, five, and six at Ashland Elementary participate in the Vocabulary Olympics program. Words, prefixes, suffixes, and root words are introduced every Friday, reviewed throughout the week, and quizzed on Thursdays. Daily review of Vocabulary Olympics material is suggested. At the end of every grading period, your child will take a test on all of the material introduced in the quarter. If at the end of the year your child has an average of 93% or higher, he or she will receive a Vocabulary Olympics tee-shirt.

Math

Last year we instituted the Harcourt Math Pennsylvania Edition. Major topics developed in fifth grade include fractions, decimals, geometry, algebra basics, and problem solving. Daily homework is essential and may be graded. Grades for math are also taken from workbook pages, quizzes, and tests.

Social Studies

Topics developed include Geography and U.S. History. Grades are taken from workbook pages, text review pages, projects, quizzes, and tests. The textbook we use is United States-Adventures in Time and Place by McGraw Hill.

Science

Topics developed include weather, the Earth, matter, motion and energy, and structures of plants and animals. Grades are taken from workbook pages, textbook assignments, projects, quizzes, and tests. The textbook we use is Science by McGraw-Hill.

Special Schedule

Monday—Book Exchange with Mrs. Pukavage

Tuesday—Health with Mrs. Smith and Music with Miss Adams

Wednesday—Study Island with Mr. Vebrosky and Library Class with

Mrs. Yuengling

Thursday—Art with Miss Pasco and Computer Class with Mrs. Groody

Friday—Physical Education with Mrs. Smith

Additional Links

Always supervise your child’s use of the Internet.

Study Island

Mr. Vebrosky’s Page

Yahooligans—Student search tool

Elwood’s Homepage—Elwood visited Grade 5 at Ashland Elementary in October of 2006!

Great Sites for Kids—The Association of Library Service to Children

Enchanted Learning—Great resources for kids!

Children’s Story Books Online—Award Winning Links—Dozens of links to websites that cross the subject areas

Summer Reading Lists—Links to reading sources for fifth graders and descriptions of books

Meet the Teacher

I was born and grew up in Pottsville, and I am a 1982 graduate of Pottsville Area High School. I graduated from Kutztown University in 1986 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in mathematics. While attending Kutztown, I studied abroad for a semester at Crewe and Alsager College in Cheshire, England. After graduation I returned to Schuylkill County where I taught for 18 years for the Diocese of Allentown. During my first ten years with the Diocese, I had a fifth grade homeroom. At that time, we often switched classes which enabled me to teach various subjects in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. During my last eight years with the Diocese, I worked with students in kindergarten to grade eight in the computer lab at All Saints School in Pottsville. In 2000 I completed a Master’s of Science Degree in Education in Classroom Technology from Wilkes University. I have also taken postgraduate classes from Penn State University, Kutztown University, I.U. #29, and Allentown College of Saint Francis DeSales. This is my third year teaching fifth grade here at Ashland Elementary.

Currently I reside in Ringtown with my wife, four children, and a dog. I enjoy attending my children’s sporting events and coach two of my sons’ soccer teams. My hobbies include traveling, reading, computers, and yard work.

As a parent, I hope the people my children come in contact with treat them with kindness and respect. I am sure you share the same hopes for your child. I strive to maintain a classroom atmosphere where these virtues are fostered and modeled.

I look forward to working with your child and you throughout the year. Thank you in advance for your support and interest. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

Mr. Brian Wolfe