I want to inform you of the switches that will be happening this year. I will be teaching science to both my students and Ms. Gangi-Hall's students. She will be teaching social studies to my students (at the same time I am teaching her students). Science will be taught for 2 hours a week in the afternoons (1 hour per day, two days a week) as it demands more time, energy and focus. The science grade will come from me and the social studies grades will come from Ms. Gangi-Hall.
About Science in Particular:
Remember that 5th grade is the first school year that students will be tested in science on the CST. This test is pretty hard and requires a full grasp and high retention of this subject for all that has been taught in science for both 4th grade and 5th grade. Your child will need to develop and get good at his/her study skills as these are a high need for full mastery in science.
I will be doing all kinds of activities to help students understand, master and apply what they are learning in science. Students will do readings on the topics we cover, take notes, do online activities, take quizzes on each topic,watch educational videos on each topic, sing songs, carry out experiments, and much more. They will also have weekly homework and a study guide they should review daily. Your home support is greatly beneficial to your child's success.
Do know that there are many online activities to support your child's learning in science, as well for our other school subjects. Please access these on a regular basis. Repeated exposure and review will go a long way to long-term retention (which is the best goal to have, rather than just to do well on one test).
Mr. Rojas
